The plane is too heavy and cannot take off. And so, to those who offer to get off, easyJet offers a refund of 500 euros.

It happened on a flight which departed from Lanzarote's Arrecife Airport and was bound for Liverpool's John Lennon Airport , scheduled for 9.45pm on Wednesday 5 July but took off almost two hours later.

This was reported by the Liverpool Echo newspaper which received the video of the steward making the announcement from a passenger. «The plane is really loaded – we hear it said -. The combination of a heavy vehicle and a rather short runway, and with the current unfavorable conditions here in Lanzarote, means that the aircraft cannot take off. There are a number of factors: it's very hot, the wind isn't fantastic, the direction isn't optimal."

There is a solution, he continues: «You may be wondering what will happen and that is why I am making this announcement to you. I've talked to our operations team and the only way to fix a problem with a heavy aircraft is to make it slightly lighter. I would like to ask up to 20 volunteers to choose not to fly to Liverpool tonight. If someone wants to come forward there will be an incentive. The figure that has been indicated to us by easyJet is up to 500 euros for each passenger willing not to fly tonight".

Nineteen passengers accepted the offer and got off, as confirmed by an easyJet spokesperson to the Liverpool Echo: "EasyJet can confirm that 19 passengers on flight EZY3364 from Lanzarote to Liverpool volunteered to travel on a later flight: the aircraft exceeded weight limits due to weather conditions.'

(Unioneonline/D)