easyJet flight diverted twice, arrives in Santorini 20 hours late

On September 14, an easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Santorini faced significant delays due to adverse weather conditions. The Airbus A320, which took off approximately 30 minutes late, attempted to land in Santorini but was diverted first to Heraklion, Crete, and then to Athens after multiple unsuccessful landing attempts. The diversions were necessitated by strong winds in Santorini, which made landing unsafe for the aircraft. After landing in Athens around 1 am local time, the crew required rest, delaying the flight's departure until 4 pm the following day. Passengers, who had expected to arrive in Santorini on Saturday, found themselves stranded overnight, with some forced to stay at the airport due to limited hotel availability. This situation was compounded by the fact that other flights from London arrived in Santorini before them. EasyJet expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers, emphasizing that the safety of customers and crew is their top priority. They attempted to provide support by arranging hotel accommodations and meals where possible, and offered reimbursement for those who had to make their own arrangements. However, the limited availability of hotels meant that not all passengers could be accommodated comfortably. Due to the circumstances being beyond easyJet's control, passengers are not eligible for compensation under European air passenger rights regulations. The incident highlights the challenges airlines face when dealing with unpredictable weather conditions and the impact on travelers' plans.