On Thursday 31st March the Easyjet flight EZ6273 from Bristol to Dalaman was delayed by two hours and twenty minutes because of a discrepancy between the numbers of passengers reported as boarding and those within the plane.

Dalaman airport opened last week to international flights. The first flights to arrive were operated by Easyjet and Monarch.

On Thursday the Easyjet flight EZ6273 from Bristol to Dalaman was delayed by two and twenty minutes because of a discrepancy between the numbers of passengers reported as boarding and those within the plane.

After an hour of checking and rechecking numbers and names cabin and ground staff were forced to empty the plane and luggage and recommence boarding to ensure everyone and their luggage was accounted for.

Luggage was laid out on the runway and passengers had to positively identify their luggage before re boarding. The only item remaining and that could not be paired with a passenger was a cricket bat in a clear cover.

The recount worked and the flight took off with 169 passengers and their luggage on board. It arrived safely at the Turkish airport at Dalaman some three and half hours later.

The flight returned to Bristol from Dalaman after a short stop over with 17 passengers on board.

The previous week it was discovered that a fake bomb had evaded airline security checks after it arrived in Istanbul from the UK undetected. Airlines are therefore on high alert for any suspicious activity including instances where passengers may check in luggage but then not travel in the same plane.