Flight delays and emergency landings due to weather turbulence are nothing out of the ordinary. However, in most cases, passengers are informed of such situations before or while they are taking place. Imagine the confusion and disappointment of passengers who found themselves landing 35km away from their intended destination.
Earlier this week, it was reported that AirAsia X flight D7 506 from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport was diverted to Gimpo International Airport due to adverse weather and air traffic congestion. As a result, the onward flight to Incheon was delayed by two hours.
The captain announced that they had landed safely at Incheon, but passengers soon realised something was wrong after checking their phones, which indicated they were actually at Gimpo instead. The cabin crew were reportedly unaware of the situation until passengers informed them that they were at the wrong airport. A video circulating online shows an announcement stating that the landing at Gimpo was an emergency measure, as the aircraft was running low on fuel.
AirAsia later issued an official statement apologising and clarifying the situation. As previously mentioned, the flight was diverted to Gimpo International Airport due to adverse weather and air traffic congestion. The aircraft also needed to refuel before continuing to its intended destination. As compensation, AirAsia will be offering travel vouchers to affected guests. “We thank our guests for their understanding and cooperation during this operational adjustment, which was necessary to ensure the safety of everyone on board,” the statement read.
Following the news, many took to Twitter to share their reactions. Some criticised AirAsia for the miscommunication and delay, while others remarked that they would have been content landing at Gimpo International Airport, as it is closer to the city centre than Incheon International Airport. A few joked that passengers should have been grateful the plane did not land in North Korea.
Whatever the case, it is a relief to know that everyone was safe and eventually arrived at the correct destination. Let us hope that, should such a situation arise again, both cabin crew and passengers will be kept well informed.
