Source: Shanghai Daily Author: Chen Qian 06/10/2008
Subject Concerned: Airlines Flight Delay
On June 9, an Air China flight was delayed several hours after some suspicious goods were discovered on the plane, the Beijing Times reported on June 10.
A passenger surnamed Li told the Beijing Times that the flight was bound for Busan, South Korea, and was scheduled to take off from Beijing at 8:25am on June 9, but all 168 passengers were first told to go to another gate in a written notice posted at the original boarding gate. The notice didn't provide a detailed explanation.
Then, passengers were informed at around 8:30am that departure had been postponed to 11:30am. Soon five police cars as well as inspection and quarantine bureau officials rushed to an Air China aircraft at the parking bay.
Two officials wearing chemical protection suits and 15 policemen with a police dog boarded the plane a few minutes later with three more officials wearing rubber gloves got on board some 30 minutes later. Three packages were taken off the plane, the newspaper reported.
Air China's customer service said there was something wrong with the plane while the inspection and quarantine bureau confirmed officials found suspicious articles on board. The articles have already been sent for further inspection, the report said.
Li told the newspaper that Air China didn't give any explanation for the flight delay, which ruined their trip. Li and her colleagues will demand compensation, according to the report.