Image: Aero Icarus via Flickr
United passengers were forced to spend a night in military barracks after a flight was diverted this past weekend, and after the incident, it appears United customer service agents are the ones who need the stint in basic training.
Flight 958 made an emergency landing at Goose Bay Airport on its way from Chicago to London due to a undisclosed maintenance issue when cabin crew reported vibrations at the rear of the plane. Passengers were shuttled on buses to a remote military barracks while the crew was sent into town to spend the night at a hotel. Many of the 176 onboard complained of poor communication, little food and inadequate housing in buildings with no heat.
Passenger Simon Millward told the Daily Mail:
“We have been completely abandoned by United staff. We were put in barracks with no heating, in the freezing north, and given two thin sheets to sleep with.”
United told NBC News that the passengers had been housed in barracks because “‘hotel space was not available’” and that the airline had provided the passengers with meals.
When passengers took to Twitter to air their woes, some followers actually defended United, alleging the passengers were just whiney and ungrateful.
@united crew arrived, looking fresh from their comfy night in a hotel #outrageous pic.twitter.com/mhnmRwzdHr
— Sallie Coventry (@salliecoventry) June 13, 2015
@SurrogateNerd The crew must rest in order to continue the flight. You can rest on board the aircraft knowing that they are in charge. ^CA
— United (@united) June 13, 2015
@OurLabrador A barracks is better than sitting @ the bottom of the Atlantic. — jimmy kraktov (@jimmy6p) June 14, 2015
@salliecoventry oh boohoo, you rather crash in the ocean then be diverted. Lucy the military was there to host you!! #ungrateful @united — angela514 (@angelamorales18) June 15, 2015
@salliecoventry@united@joncoventry poor baby, perhaps you would have preferred using your seat as a flotation device?
— Tom Terrific (@TomTerrificCDN) June 15, 2015
The London-bound passengers were put on another flight after a 20-hour delay, then flown to Newark, N.J. before continuing on to London. United has since agreed to refund the fare for each of the passengers.