DUBAI: The pilot of an easyJet flight from Gatwick in the UK to Rhodes told passengers that traveling to the island was a “bad idea” and suggested they got off the flight, according to media reports.
Wildfires have been raging across Greece for a week now, sparking what the country’s officials have described as the biggest evacuation in Greek history.
At least 19,000 people have been evacuated from the affected areas, including Rhodes.
Many of those evacuated are tourists who have found themselves stranded at airports and temporary shelters.
The easyJet pilot reportedly told passengers before takeoff that as far as he was concerned, “the flight is being operated on an emergency basis” and “return flights are now being managed by the military.”
He added: “I don’t know in what capacity you are traveling, but if you are traveling for leisure, my sincere recommendation is it’s a bad idea.”
“If you want to get off the flight, you are welcome to do so.”
Eight of the 37 passengers took the pilot’s advice and disembarked, according to BBC journalist Gwyn Loader, who was on the flight.
British tourists have been flocking to Greece as post-pandemic travel and tourism recovers, with arrivals up by 181 percent last year, according to The Guardian.
Figures show that UK tourists to Greece generated over €3 billion ($3.31 billion) in tourism revenues in 2022 — more than twice the amount they spent the previous year, the report added.
The paper reported on Monday that there were up to 10,000 British tourists stranded on Rhodes.
