British Airways Apologises After Passengers Removed From Overweight Flight in Florence

Florence, August 11 — British Airways has issued an apology after several passengers were asked to disembark from a flight departing Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport to London City Airport when the aircraft became too heavy to take off under prevailing conditions.

The incident involved a BA Embraer ERJ-190 and occurred due to a combination of factors including extreme heat, additional fuel requirements, and the airport’s short runway.

In a statement to People, British Airways explained:
“Due to the unique nature of the airfield with a short runway, extreme temperatures affect air pressure, so aircraft weight must be reduced. We’re sorry for the inconvenience this caused our customers, and our teams worked hard to get them to their destination as quickly as possible.”

The airline confirmed that the affected passengers were rebooked on the next available service and provided with hotel accommodation and transport.

Why Did It Happen?

According to a report in The Sun, the 35°C (95°F) heat in Florence reduced air density, requiring the aircraft to exert more effort to achieve takeoff. To ensure safety, the plane had to carry extra fuel, which in turn limited passenger capacity. With Florence’s runway measuring just 5,118 feet — less than half the length of Gatwick’s main runway — the combined challenges forced the airline to reduce onboard weight by removing passengers.

A British traveller told The Sun that the pilot initially announced 36 people would need to disembark, though the final number was closer to 20.

Passenger Care

British Airways reiterated its regret for the disruption and emphasised that all offloaded passengers were accommodated and rebooked promptly.