(CMR) After hours of delay, some 200 bags were reportedly removed from a Cayman Airways flight from Miami to Grand Cayman on Sunday due to the airplane being overweight with too much fuel.
CMR was informed that the plane had too much fuel that would not be used up because the flight was a short one; this would present a problem for the plane to land. The plane had the option of removing some of the fuel; however, there were no trucks available for this. As a result, a decision was taken to remove some 200 bags.
According to one passenger, everyone was on board the plane at 5 pm; however, they were told that the plane was too heavy, and as a result, 90 percent of economy class bags had to be removed.
The flight did not leave until hours later, landing in Grand Cayman at 9:10 pm. The bags that were removed were expected to arrive today.
One person with knowledge of aircraft explained that all planes have a maximum take-off weight and a maximum landing weight. With the over-fueling, the CAL flight could have taken off without any problems but would have been overweight for landing.
He further explained that if it had been a longer flight where the fuel could have burned off in flight, then there would not have been a problem, but since this was a short flight, the aircraft had to be lightened in some other way. Removing the baggage was the available solution, CMR was told.
CMR understands that among those on the affected flight was Member of Parliament Barbara Conolly.
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