Updated - Adds Air Malta explanation, statement by the Office of the President -

The Office of the President said this afternoon that it never asked anyone to stop the disembarkation of passengers from an airport coach after the President's husband returned to an Air Malta aircraft to look for a lost item, reportedly a mobile phone.

Passengers on the flight from London were fuming in the early hours of this morning after being made to wait on a coach for 20 minutes.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and her entourage were first to disembark the aircraft after it landed on schedule at 12.40am, and walked to the VVIP area.

In the meantime the remaining passengers boarded a waiting coach which, however, remained stationary.

After a few minutes, the President’s husband, Edgar Preca, emerged from the VVIP area and walked back to the aircraft – accompanied by soldiers in army fatigues.

He re-boarded the plane and disappeared from view but the coach, which was jam-packed with irate passengers, was not given clearance to make its way to the terminal.

Mr Preca disembarking the aircraft for the second time.Mr Preca disembarking the aircraft for the second time.

One passenger said: “We were left to stand on the coach in the cold – it was windy last night and the doors were left wide open – throughout the entire period that the President’s husband was back on the aircraft.

“People were rightly complaining about the situation. They had paid good money to travel on a commercial flight and were treated in this manner.

“It was really obscene as the coach didn’t move until he disembarked the aircraft for the second time. He then walked back to the VVIP area whereas us mere mortals were belatedly transported to the terminal.”

Once in the baggage area, a woman official was heard to ask whether any passengers on the flight had found a white iPhone. No one was seen to come forward.

“It was late and everybody was tired and cold after that wait. The situation was completely mishandled and an utter embarrassment,” a passenger said.

AIR MALTA SAYS SECURITY OFFICERS STOPPED DISEMBARKATION FROM COACH

In a reaction, Air Malta said that it was requested to hold the disembarkation of passengers from the coach by non-Air Malta security personnel.

"This is a normal security procedure in such cases, when a Head of State or a VVIP travels on the airline’s services."

The airline apologised to its clients for the delay and any inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond its control.

PRESIDENT INSISTED PASSENGERS SHOULD NOT BE KEPT WAITING

In a statement, the Office of the President said it never issued any order to stop the disembarkation of passengers from the coach and did not interfere in the decisions which may have been taken.

When the President was told that the passengers were still in the coach, she insisted they should not be kept waiting.

The lost item was not found and a police report was filed.

 

 

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