There are delays when flying, and there are unthinkable setbacks like the one Etihad Airways Flight EY23 experienced this past weekend.
According to The Local, what was supposed to be a seven-hour flight from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf wound up becoming a 40-hour ordeal.
It all began with a 13-hour delay before departure from Abu Dhabi on Friday. Thick fog in the Persian Gulf forced passengers to wait out the delay in their seats. The airline stated that the flight was among the services "most heavily affected by the congestion," and, therefore, the passengers weren't allowed to leave the aircraft during the delay.
Finally in the air, the flight was forced to divert to Vienna after a 73-year-old passenger suffered a medical emergency in the sky. Despite reaching the Austrian capital for treatment, the man later died, according to The Local.
With the flight's crew having gone over the limit for time on duty as a result of the tragedy, passengers and crew members were forced to spend the night in Vienna. Thankfully, the airline arranged accommodations for the unfortunate travelers.
The flight would eventually arrive in Dusseldorf a day and a half late on Sunday afternoon.
Reactions varied among the flight's passengers upon arrival, however, if there's a silver lining potentially, it's that there was praise for the crew's response to the in-flight medical emergency.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
