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Taken October 2002 from Manchester to Chania

0545 1/10/02 Arrived at Manchester Airport with my wife, ready with 300+ other passengers to enjoy a great holiday. We were boarded on the Airbus with great speed - too good to be true! The pilot announced we were ready and we were strapped in ready to go. Air-side generator removed, we lost all power! Crews explanation "circuit breaker tripped". After three attempts we were told that the Monarch engineers would sort it out. Allegedly sorted after 1 and a half hours.

Pre take off checks had to be made. Shock horror a hydraulic leak was found on the left side braking system! We hadn't moved - why was it missed first time!!!!!!! Engineers requested. Kept on the plane for 3 and a half hours before making representations. Finally allowed to leave plane. Returned to lounge then asked to return after about 45 minutes.

Re-boarded - began take off procedure - guess what "circuit breaker tripped". However this time - and not revealed to the remainder of the passengers, the emergency chutes were armed. Why? 2 feet of flame shot out of one of the auxillary power units. We were kept on board for a further 1 and half hours WITH ALL DOORS LOCKED during which kerosene fumes began to come inside the aircraft. Following demands by myself on behalf of passengers we demanded to be allowed off. By now the majority were refusing to fly on that aircraft.

Arrangements made to obtain £7 meal voucher - time now 1345hrs. Everyone left the plane and queued for 45 minutes at the information desk. Despite repeated calls to GroundStar tickets arrived 35 minutes later. Within 30 minutes we were advised the aircraft would be leaving in 45 minutes and it would be our responsibility to get on or stay behind (emotional blackmail)- no negotiations with the 300+ frightened passengers. My wife was in tears as were many other families.

Continued pressure at the gate was applied together with the arrival of very sympathetic police officers. Finally via pressure from our travel agents (we became very organised indeed) we were flown out 12 hours late on an aircraft returning from Heraklion at 5pm. Needless to say my wife will now never fly again - ferry for 2003 already booked!

If you believe in the conspiracy theory and the info I gleaned from GROUND AND AIRPORT STAFF & the incoming Heraklion flight - (they had the same problem the previous week). I would suggest that following the pilots report 30/9/02 that the Air Scandic plane was suffering from an electrical fault - it was decided to fly the 0715 flight at 1845hrs 1/10/02 when the Heraklion flight had returned.(as in fact happened to be the case) The total charade being to keep the lid on a very angry 300 passengers bound for Chania 1/10/02. The alternative scenario is frightening - Mr Mike Welch (I think this is the spelling) put his profit before the lives of his passengers/customers and his poor employees who I have the greatest fear for in the future. I could go on but what the hell...

Think twice before flying with this company... my holidays for the future have been well and truly blighted... Many thanks to Air Scandic.

OH I NEARLY FORGOT THE MESSAGE FROM A PREVIOUS CREW - THE CABIN STAFF NOTICE BOARD READ "THIS PLANE IS A DEATH TRAP".