23-7-2023 (SHANGHAI) Passengers of a Juneyao Airlines flight from Shanghai to Phuket, Thailand reported that the flight was diverted to Penang, Malaysia, causing a delay of more than 10 hours. The incident has raised concerns about airline safety protocols and the treatment of passengers during unexpected delays.
According to passengers, the flight was carrying elderly individuals, children, and even nursing infants, who were left waiting in a confined space for more than 10 hours. The incident caused anxiety and concern among family members who were unable to contact their loved ones due to the lack of signal and network on the plane.
Videos shared by passengers show that many were standing up, demanding an explanation from the flight crew. One passenger was heard shouting, “We’ve been waiting for 10 hours!”
When contacted by a journalist, a passenger confirmed that they had arrived at their destination, but the airline had not provided any explanation for the delay. She expressed a desire to file a complaint with the airline.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that a flight from Shanghai to Phuket typically takes around five hours. However, Juneyao Airlines responded to the incident, saying that the flight was diverted to Penang due to inclement weather, causing a delay of 7.5 hours.
The airline asserted that the delay was due to weather conditions and that they had followed standard safety protocols. However, passengers questioned why they had not been provided with adequate information during the delay.
Under the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s regulations, airlines are required to provide regular updates on flight delays, including the cause of the delay and estimated arrival times, every 30 minutes. They are also required to provide drinking water and food to passengers in the event of a delay lasting more than two hours. If a delay lasts more than three hours, airlines must arrange for passengers to disembark the plane, subject to safety regulations.
