Arkia plane mechanical troubles strand 200 Israelis in Zanzibar
Passengers wait for over 40 hours at airport after airline put them up in what they say were unhygienic accommodations
Around 200 Israelis have been stranded in Zanzibar for almost two days, and some may be forced to spend the weekend there, due to technical difficulties experienced by Israel’s Arkia airline, Channel 2 reported Friday.
The passengers are reportedly stuck at the airport, with the airline yet to find them a hotel for the weekend.
Holiday goers who booked with the carrier had been scheduled to depart the African archipelago on Wednesday. However a technical fault discovered in the aircraft at the last minute caused the flight to be canceled after passengers had already checked in. After long hours of waiting, the plane was again scheduled for departure and passengers were already in their seats when a new malfunction was discovered, causing another major delay.
“The company was too stingy to send in a different plane and insisted on waiting for spare parts to arrive, which took a long time,” Merav Alon, a relative of one of the passengers, told Channel 2.
After the first fault was fixed “they came to the airport again, were checked again, had already put on their seatbelts when the pilot announced there was a problem with the engine.”
She added that passengers have as of the time of writing been stranded for over 40 hours.
“At one point my sister and the other passengers were moved to a hotel in a run-down neighborhood, with dripping ceilings, stench and insects crawling on the floors,” Alon complained.
She said that passengers were now waiting in the airport and had not yet been provided lodgings by the airline.
“In the time that has elapsed the airline could have flown three functioning aircraft from Israel, but preferred to abuse its customers.”
Arkia acknowledged having experienced a series of setbacks with the aircraft, and said it had arranged a special flight that will depart on Friday night. Passengers who observe the Sabbath will be flown out on Saturday evening.
“Arkia apologizes for any discomfort caused to the passengers, but will not compromise on the safety of its flights, and is ensuring that passengers are comfortably housed in hotels,” the company said in a statement.
