Thomas cook passengers used as ballast

Travel advice issue: Thomas Cook passengers act as ballast – In what would normally be associated with shipping.

More than 70 passengers walked off a Thomas Cook flight from Majorca on June 21 after being asked to act as a form of ballast for the aircraft.

The 71 passengers were asked to move to the back of the aircraft, scheduled to fly from Majorca to Newcastle, to balance it out after a rear cargo door jammed, meaning the luggage had to be stored at the front of the aircraft.

However, with there safety in mind, they chose to walk off the flight and make their own way home.

Since returning to the UK passengers who refused to take the flight have spoken in detail to the Daily Mail and the BBC -Thomas Cook about their Thomas Cook flight experiences.

A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said because the passengers had made their own decisions to walk off a functioning flight, they were not entitled to any compensation from the airline.

She added; “It is standard for all airlines to ensure cargo and passengers are evenly distributed on an aircraft and there will be times when passengers will be asked to move to the front or back of an aircraft.

“This is a routine procedure and poses no safety issue. We are disappointed that, despite reassurances from the captain and crew, a number of passengers decided not to travel.”