Posted on 11/20/2018 10:48:08 AM PST by Simon Green
Passengers on LOT Polish airlines flight LO92 got an unusual request on a recent flight according to Polish Newsweek: Help pay for a broken-down Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s repairs, or the flight would not be taking off.
Flight LO92 was scheduled to depart Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) on Nov. 12. However, after the flight crew completed its inbound after-flight check, it was determined that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner —Registration SP-LRH— was in need of a new hydraulic pump.
It seems that after the LOT station manager contacted the local Boeing contractor to complete the repairs, the repair manager demanded cash for the repair bill. All of this after the passengers were delayed almost 10 hours as the problem was traced, parts acquired and the repair completed.
The LOT station manager decided to make an unusual request of the passengers to help get the plane airborne again; cash from passengers to cover the cost of the repair. In all, four passengers helped foot the repair bill, which totaled about $576.
Once the aircraft arrived back in Warsaw, passengers were met by Maciej Wilk, the current COO of LOT, according to the same Newsweek source. The four passengers received apologies and their money was reimbursed to them. Wilk told the passengers that even though the steps taken by the station manager in Beijing, were “unusual,” he was happy the aircraft was able to return to Warsaw. Standard operations would have repairs like this paid by wire transfer or credit card. Representatives from LOT said the matter is being investigated, but reiterated that the actions taken by the station manager in Beijing were inappropriate.
Although such situations are very rare, this isn’t the first time passengers have been asked to chip in to help a stranded plane. In 2012, passengers on Air France’s flight 562 were asked to help pay for fuel after an unexpected landing in war-torn Syria. The plane, which was flying from Paris (CDG) to Beirut (BEY) was forced to divert after protests and riots broke out around the Beirut airport. After the flight crew requested a diversion to Amman, Jordan, it was determined they lacked the fuel required to make it there, ending up in Damascus. Although an Air France representative did ask passengers how much cash they had to help pay for fuel, it was never collected from passengers.
It used to be fun to tell Polish jokes...
I’m surprised it was Boeing. Airbus OTOH...............
ROFL!!
If i KNEW how, i would put up a picture of the mechanic checking the oil in Airplane!
Prolly just a muffler bearing.
I would get off that plane and hitch hike.
What I want to know is how can you get a hydraulic pump replaced for under 600 bucks.
“I’m surprised it was Boeing.”
I’m surprised you made that statement!
One more reason to just drive yourself.
Stan Wojohowitz would still get upset.
This is actually a useful anecdote. If it happens to me, my reaction will be quite a bit different than the one I initially contemplated.
This is China. Doesn’t surprise me at all that they were looking for hard currency. Things there are not good.
If it ain’t Boeing, then I ain’t going.
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They can't get their heads in the jar.
From Beijing to Warsaw?!
Please to pay honorable repair manager his graft . . .
The local “Boeing contractor” would be a Chinese Government, state-run company or a Sino-Foreign JV with a Government ministry. It was probably this company below
http://www.mroglobal-online.com/companies/ameco-beijing/
So obviously there is some credit or bureaucratic issue between LOT and this company. Holding an aircraft to get a $537 payment is certainly bizarre, but not something out of the realm of possibility for a Chinese (particularly government-run) company.
It’d take more than one tank.
Look, if we’re all going to have to click the link, read the story, and then think before posting, it’s really gonna slow this place down.
The ‘local’ Boeing rep was asking for ‘cash’ so he could skim off the top.............It’s the Chinese way...................
That must be for the part. Even for a part, that sounds VERY cheap.
But, add the A&P/A&I labor, inspections, paperwork... I'm sure the final total is in the tens of thousands. And then there is the lost opportunity due to downtime.
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