Easyjet fuel error leaves Birmingham plane too heavy Published duration 10 January 2011

Thirty passengers were ordered off a plane which had been loaded with too much fuel to take off, it has emerged.

Easyjet has apologised and said it is compensating the passengers after the incident at Birmingham Airport on Boxing Day.

The passengers were unable to fly from the West Midlands city to Geneva because of the error.

Easyjet spokesman Andrew McConnell said the firm was investigating what had happened.

Bags left behind

The firm asked for volunteers to leave the flight and offered them a payment and overnight accommodation, but only seven people took up the offer.

The last 30 passengers to board the flight were then told to get off the plane and catch a later flight.

Some baggage was also left behind when the plane eventually took off.

Easyjet is investigating claims that passengers were threatened with arrest after declining to leave the flight.

Mr McConnell said the firm wanted to sincerely apologise to the passengers affected.

"The cause of the weight restriction was due to a fuelling error, which resulted in the aircraft taking on too much fuel, and therefore being too heavy for take-off when fully loaded," he said.