Hundreds of travellers from Newcastle experienced significant disruption to their holiday plans over the weekend when a Jetstar flight destined for Bali was delayed for more than five hours due to a technical fault.
Technical Fault Grounds Bali-Bound Jetstar Flight
Passengers scheduled to depart on flight JQ88 from Newcastle Airport on Saturday morning found themselves stranded at the terminal after a technical issue emerged during the aircraft's refuelling process. The flight, originally scheduled for a 9:30am departure to Denpasar, Bali, was unable to take off as planned.
Jetstar was forced to call in a replacement aircraft from Brisbane to operate the delayed service after engineering teams on the ground were unable to resolve the technical fault with the original plane. Fresh pilots were also required to operate the substitute aircraft.
Passenger Frustration Mounts During Extended Delay
Travelers reported spending hours waiting at Newcastle Airport as the situation unfolded. While Jetstar provided food vouchers as compensation, passengers told the Newcastle Herald that available refreshments quickly ran low due to the unexpected and extended delay.
The flight eventually took off just before 5pm, nearly seven and a half hours after its scheduled departure time. Passengers were expected to arrive in Bali around 8pm local time, significantly cutting into their holiday plans.
Airline Prioritises Safety Over Schedule
A Jetstar spokesperson acknowledged the inconvenience caused to customers but emphasised that safety considerations took priority over maintaining the schedule. "We sincerely apologise to customers for the unexpected delay as a result of an engineering issue during refuelling," the spokesperson stated.
"We appreciate this was a frustrating experience, but safety will always come first", the spokesperson continued, thanking customers for their patience during the operational disruption.
Attempts were made to contact both Newcastle Airport and the transport workers union regarding the incident on Saturday, though the airline maintained responsibility for the technical issue and subsequent delay management.
