MANCHESTER- easyJet (U2) passengers travelling from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Antalya Airport (AYT) faced a lengthy disruption after their flight was delayed for more than four hours before departing and then diverted approximately 1,200 miles away from its destination.
The unusual journey left travelers waiting at Milan Malpensa Airport before they could continue to Turkey.
Flight EZY2141 was scheduled to leave Manchester at 7:45 a.m. on August 28 and reach Antalya at 2:15 p.m. local time.
Instead, passengers were initially returned to the terminal because adverse weather across Europe caused air traffic control restrictions, while the subsequent diversion to Milan was linked to crew working-time limitations.
easyJet Manchester Departure Delayed
Passengers had already spent more than four hours at Manchester Airport when the aircraft finally departed for Antalya.
easyJet said traffic control restrictions caused by adverse weather had delayed the operation, creating a knock-on effect for the flight crew.
The airline determined that continuing the original operation would have pushed the crew beyond their legally permitted working hours. Rather than risk exceeding those limits, easyJet arranged for the aircraft to stop at Milan for a crew change and refueling.
Flight-tracking data shows that EZY2141 eventually departed Manchester at approximately 11:21 a.m., several hours after its scheduled departure.
The aircraft, an Airbus A321, subsequently landed at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) at around 2:29 p.m. local time.
Passengers Wait In Milan
The diversion created another lengthy wait for passengers who had expected to spend their Friday travelling directly to Turkey.
After reaching Milan, travelers remained at the airport while easyJet arranged the replacement crew and prepared the aircraft for the final leg.
Passengers were provided with €25 food vouchers during the wait. The aircraft eventually departed Milan at approximately 8:30 p.m., around six hours after arriving at the Italian airport.
The final flight to Antalya took roughly three hours. Flight records show the aircraft reached Antalya shortly after midnight on August 29, substantially later than the original scheduled arrival time.
EasyJet Apologizes
The disruption transformed what should have been a straightforward Manchester-to-Antalya flight into a journey involving a lengthy airport delay and an unexpected stop in another country.
The Manchester-Antalya route normally takes around four and a half hours and covers approximately 1,955 miles.
easyJet apologized to affected passengers and said it had taken steps to minimize the impact of the disruption. The airline also reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of customers and crew remained its priority.
The incident illustrates how weather restrictions can create operational problems that continue well after conditions improve.
In this case, the initial delay affected crew availability, ultimately requiring a mid-route stop in Milan before passengers could complete their journey to Antalya.
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