Passengers on an international flight heading to Sydney were left stuck after the plane was diverted to Canberra, leaving them unsure for hours about when and how they would get to their destination.
The flight was meant to land in Sydney but instead landed in the national capital. Travellers said there were delays and little information while plans were made to move people on.
It was not clear why the flight was diverted and details such as the airline, flight number and how many passengers were affected were not confirmed at the time of publication.
Flight diversions are common and can happen for reasons such as weather, heavy air traffic, runway issues, a medical problem on board or technical concerns.
When a flight diverts, airlines and airports need to work together on ground services, processing passengers and organising onward travel. This can be harder when an international flight lands at an airport that handles fewer overseas arrivals.
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For travellers, the main problems are usually not knowing the timing and the flow on effects for connecting flights, accommodation and work.
Under Australian Consumer Law and airline conditions of carriage, what passengers can get depends on what caused the disruption and what type of ticket they have.
Airlines usually rebook customers where they can, but choices can be limited during busy times or when crew limits and aircraft availability become an issue.
Canberra Airport has an international arrivals facility but an unexpected international landing can put pressure on staffing and processing especially if several flights are disrupted at the same time.
The airline and relevant aviation authorities were contacted for comment. Passengers are advised to keep an eye on airline updates and keep receipts for reasonable expenses if they are asked to pay out of pocket while waiting for alternative travel.
