They were on board when the counter-order arrived: everyone down. And the nightmare began for the passengers of the Volotea flight which should have taken off yesterday at 18.20 from Fiumicino heading towards Olbia. Among them, in addition to many tourists, also 11 teenagers from the Macomer tennis club and 7 from the Torpè tennis club, who were returning from a week-long summer camp.
Long hours of uncertainty, no explanation from the company, a first camp on the floor of the Leonardo Da Vinci, then the transfer to the hotel in the middle of the night. Waiting for news, which only arrived this morning.
Everything had gone well, during the days of sport and holidays. Until yesterday it was time to board. Once past the gate, all passengers boarded. «But at a certain point», explains the tennis instructor of the Macomera group, Alberto Scintu, «we were told that we would have to go back down. Apparently the plane had a problem with a wheel, but we have not been given any precise indications».
So here's the return to the departures area. According to an initial communication, take-off had been postponed to 21. But the announced time passed in vain. New postponement: departure scheduled for 11pm. The outcome, however, was the same. And a little later the inscription appeared on the board: flight canceled.
The instructors of the two teams kept calm, because they had responsibility for their boys. But other passengers flew into a rage.
As the hours went by, improvised beds were organized, because the feeling was that of having to spend the night at the airport. But at half past one a bus arrived and took everyone to the hotel.
«Tossed around», Scintu continues, «but at least the boys slept for a few hours». This morning came the news of the rerouting on another plane. And the unfortunate passengers took off at 11.45. It is not clear at the moment whether the trip has also been guaranteed to all the others who remained on the ground yesterday.
"Now we have to understand how we will have to do with the refunds," underlines the tennis instructor.