Jet2 is investigating how a flight left Manchester Airport with 31 passengers missing.
The group were left in a stairwell on Monday morning, having taken a wrong turn at the gate, according to an airport spokesperson.
Travel Gossip understands that instead of turning left along an airbridge to the aircraft, the second group to board turned right down some stairs and waited at the bottom in front of a set of locked doors.
They stood in what airports refer to as ‘the pepper pot’ for 30 minutes, watching other passengers board along the bridge, then saw the aircraft depart for Alicante without them.
The group was only spotted by Manchester Airport’s ground staff when they were preparing the gate for the next flight.
Jet2 issued a statement saying it is investigating the incident with Flight LS879 as a ‘matter of urgency’ with the airport.
However, a Manchester Airport spokesperson told Travel Gossip: “This is a matter for the airline.
“Boarding is a process that airlines manage and it is during this process that something went wrong.”
The airline has its own ground staff at Manchester Airport, but it is normally the cabin crew who are responsible for directing passengers onto the aircraft.
In its statement, Jet2 said: “We are aware that flight LS879 from Manchester to Alicante departed without some customers yesterday morning (19 January) and can confirm that a full investigation into the matter is urgently taking place with the airport.
“Our team looked after these customers by arranging other fights to take them to Alicante yesterday, and we would of course like to apologise to them.”
The passengers were given a £10 voucher while they waited at the airport, according to the Manchester Evening News.
