Anna Hartz
They Took Off—And Never Arrived: Passengers Trapped in Air for 32 Hours
Flying can be stressful, but most of us expect a short flight to be just that—short. You get on, you land, and you’re off to enjoy your destination.
But for the passengers of Condor flight DE1234, a simple trip turned into a nightmare that lasted more than a day, according to Digi24.
What should have taken less than three hours ended up dragging on for 32 frustrating hours.
The flight left Zurich, Switzerland, on May 24. It was headed for Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete.
Bad Weather Conditions
There were 137 passengers and six crew members on board. The weather conditions were bad. Winds around Heraklion made it hard for any flights to land or take off safely.
The plane circled Crete several times. It could not land. It was then sent to Athens. That didn’t work either.
Eventually, the plane had to stop overnight in Thessaloniki. That was just the beginning.
The flight made four total stops—Athens, Kos, Thessaloniki, and then finally back to Zurich. The passengers ended up right where they started.
Not Enough Food for the Extended Flight
Condor said they gave out snacks and drinks in the galley. But not all passengers were happy. Some said they didn’t get enough food.
A few people even felt sick during one of the failed landing attempts in Heraklion. The airline said passengers could reach out to customer service for refunds or new bookings.
At one stop in Athens, some people were allowed to leave the plane. But their checked luggage stayed on board.
Others had to find and pay for their own hotel rooms. While Condor says it helped with accommodations, not everyone seems to agree.
A flight that should have lasted just a few hours turned into a two-day mess. The passengers got no vacation, just exhaustion—and a whole lot of time in the air for nothing.