A newlywed couple that saved a United Airlines flight from potential disaster after pointing out a fuel leak was left stranded by the airline.
Mike and Rachel Brumfield were on their way to their honeymoon in Venice from New Jersey on June 13 when they noticed fuel leaking from the edge of the plane’s left wing, the Daily Mail reported.
“I’m sitting looking out window at the wings, and all of a sudden fuel started shooting out of the wing really really hard,” Rachel Brumfield, 28, told the New York Post. “It was huge — it looked like a fire hose.”
It is not clear where the fuel leak originated or how much fuel was spilled. Passengers were placed in a hotel overnight, and the airline was hoping to have them on a new flight the following day.
But the Brumfields said they never got a hotel. Mike took to Facebook to blast the airline for failing to accommodate him and his wife during what was supposed to be their honeymoon trip.
Mike wrote:
My beautiful bride on our honeymoon. Thank you, United Airlines.
We saved your united flight 170 from possibly crashing into the Atlantic, you praised us saying you’d take GOOOOD care of us, then canceled the flight and disappeared.
We landed 11 hours ago. We’re stranded. Every hotel booked. And they have no idea where our luggage is and don’t seem to care.
We’re supposed to be in Venice right now, starting a romantic day. But, luckily, several united airlines employees have been super rude to us, so at least there’s that!!
The couple was able to book a Delta flight at the last minute. United only gave them a food voucher and no accommodation. They slept on the floor of baggage claim until 7:30 a.m. when a fellow passenger gave them his hotel voucher.
United Airlines has since issued a statement on the incident, but did not acknowledge Brumfield’s claims.
“While taxiing to the runway yesterday evening, United flight 170 traveling from Newark to Venice, Italy returned to the gate due to a fuel leak, and was later canceled,” spokesman Jonathan Guerin told the New York Post. “We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience. Our team helped provide customers with hotel accommodations for the night and are working to get them back on their way to Venice today.”
This is just the latest incident that has resulted in a wave of negative press for United Airlines.
In April, a video of Dr. David Dao being dragged out of an overbooked flight after refusing to leave his seat went viral, CNN reported. Dao reached a settlement with the airline, but specifics about the deal were not revealed.