Storm-hit passengers refuse to reboard flight

FIFTEEN PASSENGERS who refused to rejoin a Dublin-bound Aer Lingus flight that had been diverted to Belfast due to a thunderstorm on Saturday were left behind at Belfast airport.

Their plane, flight EI 631 from Brussels, was diverted after it twice failed to land due to conditions at Dublin airport.

MEP Avril Doyle, one of the passengers on board, said it was a "frightening" experience.

"The plane swung from right to left and we almost hit the ground. A couple of people on the flight were very upset but thankfully we were in the hands of a very competent pilot.

"I fly every week, often several times a week, but this was the hairiest experience in my more than 40 years of flying. Thankfully no one was hurt," said Ms Doyle.

Former minister for foreign affairs David Andrews was also on board. After more than an hour's wait at Belfast airport the flight left again for Dublin. Fifteen passengers refused to fly, saying they were too frightened following the earlier landing attempts.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times