Furious passengers stuck on stranded plane for two hours told they cannot have food ‘for legal reasons
Starving travellers aboard Monarch Airlines flight ZB203 were denied snacks after their plane was diverted to Luton
FURIOUS passengers left stranded on a plane after Gatwick's runway was closed were told they couldn't have any food for legal reasons.
Starving travellers aboard Monarch Airlines flight ZB203 from Antalya, Turkey to Gatwick were denied snacks after their plane had to be diverted to Luton.
The flyers were stuck on the runway for more than two hours while the logistics for a return to Gatwick were sorted out after the airports north runway had to close after a 'hole' appeared in the tarmac.
But when peckish passengers, including young kids, asked for sandwiches and crisps as they waited for take of they told that customs law meant they were unable to sell them food.
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The hungry travellers blasted the situation as "idiotic" with some threatening to march off the plane.
The Independent's economics editor, 36-year-old Ben Chu, told the : “The crisps and sandwiches have been padlocked with the duty free items and because they’ve been sealed we’ve been told we can’t eat them.
“It is complete rubbish this isn’t a normal situation and common sense should override. It is just idiotic behaviour.”
“We asked what would happen if we were starving to death?"
A Monarch spokesman confirmed UK customs law prevented the crew from selling any food or drink from the bar service when the plane was grounded.
He said: "Due to customs law crew are not able to serve food or drinks on board whilst the aircraft was grounded at Luton airport. Customers who asked for drinks were offered tap water where available.
"All customers will now be coached back to Gatwick from Luton airport following the runway closure."
The news comes after Gatwick's main runway was closed shortly before 4pm yesterday after a hole appeared in the tarmac.
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