They weren’t having an Easy time taking off.
EasyJet crewmembers raised eyebrows after requesting that five passengers disembark a flight because the aircraft was too heavy to take off.
The incident occurred April 11 at Southend Airport in Essex aboard flight EJU7008, which was slated to fly to Malaga in Southern Spain, Birmingham Live reported.
However, while the plane was taxiing on the tarmac, the captain made an unusual announcement over the intercom, revealing that the plane was too cumbersome for a safe departure.
According to a statement from the budget carrier’s reps, the Airbus A319 exceeded “the weight limits for the weather conditions and the short length of the runway.” At just over 6,000 feet long, Southend Airport’s main runway is shorter than most major flight hubs, thereby reducing the window for a safe takeoff when inclement weather hits.
It’s yet unclear how many pounds over the craft was, the Airbus A319 has a maximum take-off weight of 75.50 tons, according to the airplane maker.
Either way, some of the passengers would need to deplane — a demand that surprised many of the flyers.
EasyJet did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Passenger Carly Mowbray told online publication Your Southend, “We were told option one: six people get off. Option 2: they leave the luggage or Option 3: we go nowhere. We had 30 mins to resolve it.”
“It was a rough start to a short weekend getaway,” added the flustered flyer, noting that there were already ten empty seats.
“I honestly couldn’t believe what was happening — I thought he was joking at first,” seconded Kelly Wayand, 45, who works as an independent travel agent, per the Daily Star.
Thankfully, five passengers volunteered to vacate the aircraft so it could takeoff, earning the praise of their fellow flyers.
“The people who got off departed to a round of applause from those of us that stayed,” recounted Mowbray. “The flight crew said they had not experienced it before either.”
The three-hour flight eventually departed for Malaga, just 12 minutes behind schedule, the Independent reported.
Fortunately, the flyers will be reimbursed for their good deed. Airline reps noted that “the customers were provided with transport” and a flight to Malaga later that day “free of charge,” and that they were working with them to “provide the compensation they are entitled to, in line with regulations.”
Passengers can be eligible to receive upwards of $400 depending on the length of their delay.
While this ask might seem unusual, EasyJet reps said that “weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons.”
“The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always EasyJet’s highest priority,” they added.
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