Latest news with #DE1234
USA Today
7 days ago
- USA Today
Passengers stuck on a 32-hour flight with multiple diversions never made it to destination
Passengers stuck on a 32-hour flight with multiple diversions never made it to destination Show Caption Hide Caption Flying etiquette tips: Simple rules for a stress-free air travel experience Master flying etiquette: Key tips for smooth and respectful air travel. A Condor flight from Zurich to Crete experienced multiple diversions and an overnight stay due to severe weather. The flight, initially scheduled for under three hours, ultimately took over 32 hours and returned to Zurich without reaching Crete. A recent Condor flight, which was supposed to take less than three hours, turned into a 32-hour ordeal when poor weather forced multiple diversions, including an overnight stay, according to the Germany-based airline. Even after its extended journey, the flight never reached its final destination. Condor flight DE1234 departed from Zurich, Switzerland, at 6:35 a.m. on May 24 for Heraklion, Crete, in Greece with 137 passengers and six crew members onboard. Typically, the flight time for this route is approximately two and a half hours, but "extreme weather conditions with strong winds" that day restricted the number of take-offs and landings in Crete, Condor spokesperson Johanna Tillmann told USA TODAY in an email statement. "Despite several attempts to land in Heraklion, the flight was unfortunately unable to operate as planned and had to be diverted several times including a night stop in Thessaloniki before finally returning to Zurich," Tillmann continued. What to know: Apple Wallet soon to include passports, but it won't be valid for this type of travel The aircraft made several attempts to land in Crete, but was diverted to other Greek airports. According to FlightAware, the flight flew to Athens before going to the island of Kos, landing at 1:51 p.m. After that, it arrived in Thessaloniki at 5:05 p.m. for an overnight stay. The next day, the flight went to Athens then returned to Zurich at 2:46 p.m. for a total flight time of over 32 hours. The airline said passengers were updated about the flight path via email and text message and given hotel accommodation and grand transport in Thessaloniki. "We sincerely apologize to all affected guests for the inconveniences caused by this," the airline said. "The safety of all guests and crew members is Condor's top priority at all times, as in this case as well." Those who were on the flight are able to reach out to Condor customer service for refund and rebooking options.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
137 Plane Passengers Stuck on 32-Hour Flight Which Landed 5 Times and Ended Up Right Back Where It Started
A Condor airlines flight from Zurich, Switzerland, to Crete, Greece, was rerouted due to "extreme weather conditions" and ended up making five landings during its 32-hour travel time The flight, which was carrying 137 passengers, ended up back at Zurich for its final landing Condor told PEOPLE that the strong winds in Crete made it impossible for the flight to land despite multiple attempts and it was diverted "several times" and also made an overnight stop Airline travel can be a headache, but it's not every day that a less than three-hour flight turns into a 32-hour saga that ended in passengers being returned to their original airport. On May 24, Condor flight DE1234 departed from Zurich, Switzerland, heading for Heraklion, Crete, in Greece with 137 passengers and six crew members. The flight, which is supposed to take just under three hours, experienced 'extreme weather conditions,' a Condor airlines representative told PEOPLE. 'With strong winds, take-offs and landings at Heraklion Airport on Crete were only possible to a limited extent,' Condor said in a statement. 'Despite several attempts to land in Heraklion, the flight was unfortunately unable to operate as planned and had to be diverted several times including a night stop in Thessaloniki before finally returning to Zurich.' According to Business Insider, citing data from Flightradar24, the flight circled off the coast of Crete half a dozen times before U-turning to land in Athens. The outlet reported that the plane made four stops and endured an overnight stay in Thessaloniki during the 32-travel time. The plane also stopped in Athens a second time and in Kos before returning to Zurich. Condor said that the flight made "several stops," including a night stop in Thessaloniki. The airline also said in its statement that, 'Refreshments and drinks were served for all guests by the crew in the galley,' however, according to Metro, some passengers complained that they weren't given many refreshments and some reportedly vomited during one of the attempted approaches to Heraklion. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! When asked about the claims, the Condor spokesperson told PEOPLE, 'Drinks were served for all guests by the crew in the galley, the hotel accommodation was organized by Condor,' noting that guests can contact customer service for 'refund and rebooking options.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Passengers also claimed they had to pay for their own hotels, per the outlet, and upon landing in Athens for the second time, were given the opportunity to disembark ahead of the final return to Zurich, but without their checked luggage. Read the original article on People
News18
10-06-2025
- News18
Flight To Nowhere: 137 Passengers Land Back At Starting Point After 32-Hour Journey
Last Updated: Powerful winds severely hampered the aircraft's landing, forcing the pilot to circle for an extended period. A routine flight from Switzerland to Greece turned into a 32-hour odyssey of diversions and delays, ultimately landing 137 passengers back at their point of departure. The Condor flight, originally bound for Crete, was repeatedly thwarted by severe weather. The incident unfolded on May 24 when Condor flight DE1234 departed Zurich, Switzerland, for Heraklion in Crete, Greece. Though running 30 minutes late, the journey initially seemed smooth. After two hours, the aircraft began its initial descent towards the Greek island, as reported by the New York Post. Powerful winds severely hampered the aircraft's landing, forcing the pilot to circle for an extended period. A decision was then made to divert to Athens for refueling, where the plane touched down three hours after its initial departure from Zurich. Approximately two and a half hours later, the pilot attempted a second landing in Heraklion but severe weather conditions caused the plane to circle before diverting to Kos, a nearby Greek island, for another refuel. After yet another failed attempt to reach Heraklion, the aircraft, running low on fuel, was rerouted to Thessaloniki in Greece. The crew decided this was the best place for passengers and flight attendants to spend the night. By this point, the flight had been in the air for a staggering 11 hours since leaving Zurich. Flight's Final Return The following day, the crew planned one last attempt to reach Crete. However, persistent strong winds once again forced the aircraft into a holding pattern after which the plane was compelled to divert to Athens for a fourth time. At this point, the crew decided to turn the aircraft back towards Zurich- returning to its original departure point a remarkable 32 hours after it had first taken off. In a statement, Condor airline noted that 'due to extreme weather conditions and strong winds, takeoffs and landings at Heraklion Airport were only possible to a limited extent." About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Greece First Published: June 10, 2025, 23:22 IST
NDTV
10-06-2025
- NDTV
Flight To Greece Returns To Zurich After 32-Hour Trip Due To Bad Weather
A flight from Switzerland to Greece had to return to its point of departure after 32 hours in the air due to bad weather. According to the New York Post, the incident took place on May 24, when Condor flight DE1234 was embarking on what was supposed to be a routine flight from Zurich to Heraklion in Crete, Greece. The flight was already running 30 minutes late, but initially appeared to be going swimmingly. After two hours, it began its initial descent to the idyllic Greek isle. However, the aircraft's landing was hampered by powerful winds, which forced it to circle around for a prolonged period. Then, the pilot decided to divert to Athens and refuel. The plane touched down at the Greek capital three hours after it originally departed Zurich, per the Post. Around two and a half hours later, the pilot made a second attempt to land the plane in Heraklion. However, due to severe weather conditions, the plane circled again before landing at Kos, a nearby Greek island, to refuel. After another failed attempt, the aircraft was once again running low on fuel, and the flight was diverted to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. The crew felt that this was a good place for the passengers and flight attendants to spend the night. They reportedly touched down after a whopping 11 hours after they'd initially left Zurich. The next day, the crew decided to make one last attempt to get to Crete, but found themselves in a holding pattern yet again due to wind. Again, they were forced to divert to Athens, whereupon the crew decided to call it quits and fly back to Zurich. The plane returned to its point of departure 32 hours later. In a statement, the airline said that "due to extreme weather conditions and strong winds, takeoffs and landings at Heraklion Airport were only possible to a limited extent." According to the Post, the plane had landed a total of five different times. To make matters worse, passengers were only given a glass of water and nothing else during the whole flight. Moreover, upon arriving at Thessaloniki, they were forced to pay for their hotel room, although they are entitled to reimbursement under European aviation guidelines.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Horrid flight as passengers stuck on 32-hour trip to nowhere — and wind up right back where they started
It was quite the odyssey. Passengers endured a mind-numbing, 32-hour flight to nowhere after a Condor flight to Greece was forced to turn around and return home following multiple failed trips. The Sisyphean journey occurred on May 24 when Condor flight DE1234 was embarking on what was supposed to be a routine 1,198-mile flight from Zurich to Heraklion in Crete, Greece, One Mile At A Time reported. Despite departing around 30 minutes late, the flight appeared to be going swimmingly. After a short two hours, the plane began its initial descent to the idyllic Greek isle. Unfortunately, the aircraft's landing was hampered by powerful winds, which forced it to circle around for a prolonged period before the pilot decided to divert to Athens and refuel. They touched down at the Greek capital at 11:24 a.m. local time — three hours after they'd originally departed Zurich. Around two and a half hours later, the crew made a second attempt to ferry the 137 passengers to Heraklion, only to be boomeranged yet again. The weather conditions were still quite severe. After circling around again, they decided to divert to Kos, a nearby Greek island, to refuel, landing at 3:28 p.m. after a 1.5-hour flight. As the aircraft was once again running dangerously low on fuel, the decision was made to divert to Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, which the crew felt was a good place for the passengers and flight attendants to spend the night. They reportedly touched down at 6:04 after an approximately one-hour flight — a whopping 11 hours after they'd initially left Zurich. The following day at 9 a.m., the crew decided to make one last attempt to get to Crete, but found themselves in a holding pattern yet again due to the wind — like de ja flew. Again, they were forced to divert to Athens, whereupon the crew decided to call it quits and fly back to Zurich, arriving a full 32 hours after their initial departure. Condor reps said that 'due to extreme weather conditions and strong winds, takeoffs and landings at Heraklion Airport were only possible to a limited extent.' During the fruitless journey, they had reportedly landed a total of five different times. To make matters worse, flyers were only given a glass of water and nothing else during the whole flight while many passengers vomited during the approaches to Heraklion because of the powerful winds. Upon arriving at Thessaloniki, meanwhile, flyers were forced to float their own hotel rooms, although they are entitled to reimbursement under European aviation guidelines. This isn't the first time passengers have experienced an inadvertent round trip. Last June, British Airways passengers flew for hours across the Atlantic Ocean — only for the plane to turn around and return halfway through their trip due to a technical issue.
