Costly glitch for Air Nam Inquiry as to who pressed emergency button on Frankfurt-bound flight

AIR Namibia is counting the cost after a mishap on one of its international flights to Frankfurt led to delays, overbookings and a host of frustrated clients.

A button that releases the emergency chute – which passengers slide down to evacuate the plane in emergencies – was pressed by accident before take-off on Friday night’s flight and it had a serious ripple effect on the company’s operations. Some 25 passengers had to leave the plane because the business-class area was declared unsafe, and by yesterday the company was still working on the overflows after they were put up in local accommodation establishments.”We are still counting the financial cost.We will have a better idea once we have dealt with all passengers.But so far, we regard the incident as a genuine accident,” said Helois //Hoabeb, General Manager of Commercial Services at Air Namibia.//Hoabeb said it was not clear who had deployed the emergency chute but an investigation was launched, with a report expected to arrive from Germany this week.”Someone opened the armed door and the chute opened.It became a safety issue.It was deflated and taken to Germany for repair,” //Hoabeb said.The Namibian’s sources said one hostess almost fell out of the plane at around 22h30 as she was blown back by the air pressure.They further alleged that technicians had to use tape to close the door and move those in the business-class cabin to economy class, while 22 passengers in economy class were offered voluntary delays.By around 23h30 Air Namibia took the 25 passengers back to Windhoek from Hosea Kutako International Airport.They first tried to book them into Kalahari Sands Hotel but it was full and the passengers were moved to the Windhoek Country Club and Resort, where they found beds by 00h45.The company promised the 25 passengers either a free economy-class ticket or free accommodation equal to the cost of the ticket they had paid for.By yesterday, some of the passengers were still waiting to go back to Europe but //Hoabeb said they re-routed some through Johannesburg.”It was a real mess.Though we were promised free tickets, nothing was given in writing and we had to do everything to find out how we can claim the tickets.It is a poor representation of Namibia by Air Namibia.The service was very poor,” said one passenger.//Hoabeb said, although costly, it was a rule at Air Namibia to reward passengers when they are delayed.”It’s part of our customer service.We can’t leave passengers high and dry,” he said.He said initial information that reached his office indicated that some passengers were still in the airport lounge when the incident took place.”The financial damage is there but we can only determine it once we have sorted out all the overflows,” //Hoabeb said.Any further action by the company will be determined by the outcome of the accident investigation.Some 25 passengers had to leave the plane because the business-class area was declared unsafe, and by yesterday the company was still working on the overflows after they were put up in local accommodation establishments. “We are still counting the financial cost.We will have a better idea once we have dealt with all passengers.But so far, we regard the incident as a genuine accident,” said Helois //Hoabeb, General Manager of Commercial Services at Air Namibia.//Hoabeb said it was not clear who had deployed the emergency chute but an investigation was launched, with a report expected to arrive from Germany this week.”Someone opened the armed door and the chute opened.It became a safety issue.It was deflated and taken to Germany for repair,” //Hoabeb said.The Namibian’s sources said one hostess almost fell out of the plane at around 22h30 as she was blown back by the air pressure.They further alleged that technicians had to use tape to close the door and move those in the business-class cabin to economy class, while 22 passengers in economy class were offered voluntary delays.By around 23h30 Air Namibia took the 25 passengers back to Windhoek from Hosea Kutako International Airport.They first tried to book them into Kalahari Sands Hotel but it was full and the passengers were moved to the Windhoek Country Club and Resort, where they found beds by 00h45.The company promised the 25 passengers either a free economy-class ticket or free accommodation equal to the cost of the ticket they had paid for.By yesterday, some of the passengers were still waiting to go back to Europe but //Hoabeb said they re-routed some through Johannesburg.”It was a real mess.Though we were promised free tickets, nothing was given in writing and we had to do everything to find out how we can claim the tickets.It is a poor representation of Namibia by Air Namibia.The service was very poor,” said one passenger.//Hoabeb said, although costly, it was a rule at Air Namibia to reward passengers when they are delayed.”It’s part of our customer service.We can’t leave passengers high and dry,” he said.He said initial information that reached his office indicated that some passengers were still in the airport lounge when the incident took place.”The financial damage is there but we can only determine it once we have sorted out all the overflows,” //Hoabeb said.Any further action by the company will be determined by the outcome of the accident investigation.

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