Some Jetstar passengers at Darwin Airport asked to leave Brisbane flight due to staff sick day

Passengers prepared for their flight from Darwin to Brisbane were left shocked and frustrated when Jetstar staff suddenly asked 14 people to disembark. Find out why and watch our exclusive video.

Passengers prepared for their flight from Darwin to Brisbane were left shocked and frustrated when Jetstar staff suddenly asked 14 people to disembark due to a staff member falling ill.

The passengers of Jetstar flight JQ673 from Darwin to Brisbane on Wednesday evening were given the news after hours of delays, in which the aircraft arrived in the Top End an hour late, and a further delay of more than two and a half hours.

Some passengers on a Darwin to Brisbane Jetstar flight that was delayed by hours were asked to disembark due to staffing issues. Picture: Supplied

Two passengers told the NT News they were told the plane would not be able to fly unless a number of people disembarked before takeoff.

Jetstar on Friday confirmed 14 passengers were requested to leave the flight.

As an inducement, the airline offered a $1000 credit travel voucher and accommodation as well as a Qantas flight to Brisbane to depart within 24 hours.

The move to cull passenger numbers on JQ673 was described by one traveller on board as “dehumanising”.

“The flight was an hour late to start with and then we just sat there for a couple of hours apparently as they refuelled, the aircraft.

“Then they were over capacity and they waited until enough people with carry on luggage volunteered to get off the plane so it could take off. It is a joke this far into the runway upgrade and with the cost of flights people are having to endure that. It looks like work experience kids are in charge.”

However the low-cost carrier took responsibility for the embarrassing pre-flight muck-up, saying a cabin crew member had called in sick which forced the airline, operating under safety rules, to reduce the number of passengers who could remain on board.

A Jetstar spokesman said the cancellation had nothing to do with overbooking by the airline or tarmac upgrades and said the two choices the airline faced were to reduce passenger numbers or cancel the flight entirely.

The airline apologised for the muck-around.

“We’re really sorry for disrupting several customers travel plans on Wednesday,” Jetstar said in a statement.

“A cabin crew member felt unwell and couldn’t operate the flight. Without enough time to replace them and to avoid cancelling the flight, we made the decision to operate with one less cabin crew member.

“To comply with strict aviation safety regulations on the ratio of crew to passengers, 14 passengers were asked to voluntarily disembark.

“The passengers were offered a flight the following day and we provided them with a travel voucher and covered their accommodation, meals and other reasonable expenses.”