BA refuses to compensate delayed passengers following engine fire
Passengers whose flights at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend were delayed after a British Airways jet engine caught fire, causing Heathrow to temporarily close both runways last Friday morning, are allegedly being denied compensation by the airline.
Reports say that BA is insisting that travellers left temporarily stranded after short-haul flights from Heathrow were cancelled won’t not get anything more than the free food and drink or hotel accommodation they received.
Flights in and out of Heathrow were cancelled after the Oslo-bound BA jet turned back to London following the outbreak of a fire in one of its engines.
About 200 UK flights, mostly operated by BA, were cancelled following the closure of Heathrow, affecting hundreds of travellers.
However, BA insists passengers are not entitled to compensation because the delay was due to "extraordinary circumstances". It said it took care of affected passengers, providing food and drink, and hotel accommodation where necessary.
According to consumer group Which? passengers may be able to challenge BA’s decision if it turns out the engine fire was caused by a technical fault. If it turns out that a bird strike was to blame, as suspected, the airline might be able to successfully argue the delay was due to circumstances outside its control and avoid a pay-out.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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