Passengers on their way to Warsaw, Poland, from Beijing Capital International Airport were asked to chip in 2,500 RMB (about P18,800) to pay for the repair of a broken hydraulic pump on their plane.
The odd experience of 249 passengers of the LOT Polish Airlines flight came about after a mechanic refused to accept any form of payment other than cash to repair the broken pump, reports Daily Mail.
The incident took place on Nov. 11 when a leak was noticed on the plane after it landed at the Beijing airport.
After the mechanic refused to work, a crew member on the flight started asking passengers to chip in so the repairs could be done.
Passenger Daniel Golebiowski said, “He asked several people, he took 400 RMB (around P3,000) from just us.”
Golebiowski added, “We are at the international airport. I cannot believe that transactions take place here in cash under the table with the mechanic standing next to the plane. Incredible.”
Paid and satisfied, the mechanic went to work and the plane repairs delayed the flight for ten hours, as stated in the report.
Once the plane finally reached its destination, the airline immediately refunded the passengers who chipped in to pay the mechanic.
“I know that you encountered an unusual situation today, for which I would like to apologize for from the bottom of my heart,” said airline spokesman Adrian Kubicki.
“Believe it nor not, but there was a situation with a warehouse employee in Beijing who refused all methods of payment other than cash which led to the confusion. Nevertheless, I am grateful to him and that the flight returned safely to Warsaw.”
Meanwhile, Kubicki specified that the crew member who initiated the repair money pot will get disciplinary action.
He said, “There are no circumstances that justify asking money from passengers.”