Passengers fume after flight to Spain takes off with NO ONE’S luggage on board – and airline gives a bizarre reason why | The Sun

PASSENGERS on a flight to Spain were left fuming after waiting more than two hours for their luggage to turn up after nobody told them it had been lost.

Holidaymakers aboard a 111 Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) flight to the city of Bilbao, Spain from Zurich, Switzerland were left completely dumbfounded.

The WK226 flight, operated by an Airbus A220-100, had already been delayed for more than 90 minutes.

It was scheduled to take off from Zurich Airport around 5.10pm but didn't leave until 6.42pm on Saturday evening (September 9).

This was due to "a shortage of ground staff" on the flight operated on behalf of Edelweiss Air, the sister carrier of the Swiss company.

But after continuous delays, the decision was made for the flight to leave without the luggage of its passengers.

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SWISS spokesperson Kavin Ampalam confirmed that the plane had taken off with no baggage onboard.

"One hour and 16 minutes, the situation was still unchanged, and for operational reasons, we decided to fly to Bilbao without the baggage."

The reason behind the decision was so allow the plane to pick up its passengers in Bilbao and return to the Swiss airport before it closed.

Ampalam added: "We understand the situation is not favourable for the people involved, and of course we regret the inconvenience."

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According to local media, the pilot had reportedly apologised for the delayed takeoff and blamed unqualified personnel for the issue.

However, he did not mention the decision to leave the luggage behind.

Ampalam also revealed that he could not confirm that the people onboard had not been told about the decision to leave the luggage in Zurich.

He said: "We are still analysing the situation to find out what happened exactly and how we can improve. This shouldn't happen."

As a result of the lack of communication, the passengers would find out their holiday's had begun in the worst way possible only when they arrived in Bilbao.

According to the travellers, there were no Swiss employees at the other end to to inform them of their missing luggage.

One of the passengers, Carsten Redlick, said: "Our holidays are trashed."

Another unnamed one added: "I just find it arrogant to ruin people's holidays like that knowingly. Because it has to be done knowingly."

Ampalam concluded: "This situation is of course very annoying for the passengers, we understand that.

"We are therefore working hard to ensure that all passengers receive their luggage back as quickly as possible."

SWISS airline confirmed on Sunday evening that a solution with the responsible luggage retailer had been sorted.

They said: "The first part of the luggage will be transported to Bilbao on Sunday evening before midnight.

"The second part will take place 24 hours later."

This isn't the first incident that SWISS cabin crew have been slammed for in recent weeks.

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At the end of August, three flight attendants were caught dancing on the wing of a Boeing 777 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as they posed for photos.

Video footage shows the three members of staff larking about on the wing as they waited to take off in what was labelled a 'life-threatening' stunt.

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