The smell that stopped a plane from taking off

Few things, let alone fruits, are as divisive as durian. I’m reliably informed that many people find them delicious.

But many other people find their stench unbearable, leading to many hotels in Asia having a very strict “no-durian” policy. So, it comes as no surprise to read that the smell of the fruit has delayed a flight.

According to The Jakarta Post, a journalist who was on a Sriwijaya Air plane at Bengkulu airprt. saw several passengers argue and “almost coming to blows’ with flight crew members”. 

Ground crew eventually removed the fruit from the hold and the plane took up about an hour after schedule.

A statement from the airline noted: “It’s not illegal to carry durian in a flight as long as it is wrapped properly in accordance with flight regulations — carried inside the hold. Many airlines do this.”

Not any airline I’d be prepared to fly on.

 

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