ABHA: The cancellation of Saudi Airlines’ Riyadh-Abha flight 1695 due to bad weather on Thursday night led to skirmishes between the passengers and the ground staff, forcing the intervention of security staff.
The Saudia staff at the Riyadh airport said the passengers were behaving in a rude manner, while the passengers said the staff were provocative, local media reported on Saturday.
“Flight 1695 was supposed to leave Riyadh at 8.30 p.m. for Abha. After a delay of one hour, we entered the plane and stayed inside for another hour. Then we were told the weather is bad and that we go back home and return at 1 a.m.,” Mohammad Assiri, a passenger, was quoted as saying on Saturday.
“Some of the staff treated us badly because they wanted us to go back to our homes and not the airport hotel. Tough words were exchanged before we were allowed to stay in a hotel away from the airport. Our travel arrangements were made the following day at 3 p.m.,” he said.
“Until now, we are in the dark about what exactly is the reason for the flight cancellation and why the staff of Saudi Airlines treated us this way,” he added.
Maher Abu Hijlah, another passenger, had a similar story to tell. He said he came from Rafa and was traveling to Abha. “I had another plane to catch from there and the delay caused me a lot of inconvenience.”
Awad Al-Qahtani, another affected passenger, said he is surprised because his brother in Abha lives next to the airport and said the weather was normal over there. “What is the real reason behind the delay? We want an explanation from Saudi Airlines, with transparency.”
Saudi Airlines spokesman Abdullah Al-Khareef insisted that the flight was canceled because of bad weather. Another flight was arranged the next afternoon and all the passengers were kept in a hotel until then, he added.
The Saudia staff at the Riyadh airport said the passengers were behaving in a rude manner, while the passengers said the staff were provocative, local media reported on Saturday.
“Flight 1695 was supposed to leave Riyadh at 8.30 p.m. for Abha. After a delay of one hour, we entered the plane and stayed inside for another hour. Then we were told the weather is bad and that we go back home and return at 1 a.m.,” Mohammad Assiri, a passenger, was quoted as saying on Saturday.
“Some of the staff treated us badly because they wanted us to go back to our homes and not the airport hotel. Tough words were exchanged before we were allowed to stay in a hotel away from the airport. Our travel arrangements were made the following day at 3 p.m.,” he said.
“Until now, we are in the dark about what exactly is the reason for the flight cancellation and why the staff of Saudi Airlines treated us this way,” he added.
Maher Abu Hijlah, another passenger, had a similar story to tell. He said he came from Rafa and was traveling to Abha. “I had another plane to catch from there and the delay caused me a lot of inconvenience.”
Awad Al-Qahtani, another affected passenger, said he is surprised because his brother in Abha lives next to the airport and said the weather was normal over there. “What is the real reason behind the delay? We want an explanation from Saudi Airlines, with transparency.”
Saudi Airlines spokesman Abdullah Al-Khareef insisted that the flight was canceled because of bad weather. Another flight was arranged the next afternoon and all the passengers were kept in a hotel until then, he added.
