Local

‘People piling up’: Passengers stranded after flight makes emergency landing at Logan Airport

BOSTON — Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Boston’s Logan Airport early Tuesday morning after their Spain-bound plane was forced to turn around after one hour in the air.

A LEVEL flight was delayed due to a mechanical issue Monday night. Passengers initially told Boston 25 that it was an Iberia flight but LEVEL is a separate airline from Iberia, although it is also part of the International Airline Group.

They finally boarded and took off but were forced to turn around after just an hour in the air.

“Here we are, we got an itinerary in Barcelona, hotel booked in a really nice hotel and everything, and now they’re saying we can’t get out until the 28th,” said Tony Brasil, of Methuen, who was traveling to Spain with his wife to celebrate her 60th birthday. “The plane is literally right there they just need to repair it and they’re doing nothing.”

Brasil said the airline did not offer to put them in a hotel. Some people were laying on green cots in the terminal and others were sitting on the floor.

“They brought us back, no communication to anybody,” Brasil said. “People are piling up, kids are sleeping all over the floor, and there is no communication.”

Boston 25 News reached out to Iberia for comment but has not heard back.

“I haven’t slept in 24 hours so I’m a little irritated,” said Jane Arcese, of North Brookfield. “Some people are trying to get home. We are trying to go on vacation. We work hard all year, we want our vacation.”

Arcese said some passengers on the flight had experienced the same situation Sunday night and had been rebooked on their Monday night flight only to have to turn around again.

“I am really frustrated, it took a lot to get here, I’ve been really looking forward to this vacation and it’s been hard thinking that we might not get there,” said Amy Reidy, of Worcester. “I think they should find a way to get us there over the next day or so and try to find another plane, make it happen, because especially for the people who were also here last night. I can’t imagine doing this twice.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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