By Eric King
A united Airlines bound for Chicago has been forced to make an emergency landing in Edinburgh, Scotland UK, shortly after taking off from Heathrow airport.
The Boeing 767 united airlines plane circled around the City in order to dump fuel before finally landing in Edinburgh around 08.45 Let this morning.
The flight landed in the Scottish capital, only about an hour into its flight because of a shortage of fuel. The situation that occurred raises serious concerns about the efficacy of airlines in ensuring adequate fuel in planes for the safety of passengers.
If planes can take off from airports without sufficient fuel, this failure signals inadequate caution in prioritising the interests of passengers. An airline destined for Chicago really has no business making an emergency landing in Edinborough.
TERRORISM
Passengers pay good money for flights to Chicago from London, with flights costing up to 500 pounds this time of year for those who booked in advance.
In this age of terrorism, air travel already carries its risks. Further, risks to the
safety of passengers is unacceptable and extremely negligent of any airline, who should be expected to safeguard the interest of customers.
ADEQUACY
All planes should always be double checked before departure to confirm the adequacy of fuel and the optimum application of security. Compromising this fundamental expectation is an insult to passengers, one that places the business interests of the airline above that of the consumer.
