TOURISTS got off a flight to Rhodes after the pilot warned them it was a “terrible idea” to travel there as the island continues to be ravaged by forest fires.
The plane was just about to take off from Gatwick when the easyJet captain urged the 37 British holidaymakers on board to think twice about their trip to the Greek holiday island.
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He said travelling to the island for a holiday was a “bad idea”, explaining return flights are being managed by the military.
Speaking over the tannoy, the pilot said: “Travelling to Rhodes for a holiday at the moment is a terrible idea.
“As far as I’m concerned, this flight is being operated on an emergency basis.
“Return flights are now being managed by the military. If you want to get off flight, you are welcome to do so.
“I don’t know in what capacity you are travelling, but if you are travelling for leisure, my sincere recommendation is it’s a bad idea.”
Eight travellers, including a young boy in tears, took heed of his sobering words and disembarked the aircraft, journalist Gwyn Loader who was on the plane to report for BBC Wales’ Welsh-language news programme Newyddion said.
Thousands of Brits now face losing their holidays as hotels on the island look set to be shut for at least the next two weeks.
It comes as up to 10,000 stranded Brits wait for news after wildfires engulfed their hotels in Rhodes — with Corfu the latest to evacuate tourists.
Many have angrily accused tour operators of dumping them on the island while knowing it was being destroyed by forest fires.
Some have spent more than 48 hours in makeshift evacuation centres hastily set up as the inferno spread along the south coast.
Mercy flights began to bring them home yesterday — with more expected today.
But holidaymakers slammed airlines and travel firms for flying them to Rhodes in the first place.
Mum Jane Allen, 49, flew from Manchester with package group TUI on Saturday evening — as thousands on the island were ordered to flee.
She said: “We landed in Rhodes to utter chaos and were told our villa had been evacuated.
“They knew what we were flying into, how serious it was. How could they?”
THE NEED TO KNOW ON FLIGHTS TO GREECE
By Lisa Minot
THE Rhodes fires have seen tens of thousands of tourists stranded or fleeing flames.
The fearful scenes will have had a huge impact on those due to visit the island.
And news that Corfu and now Crete are also ablaze will be causing extra worry.
Q: I am due to visit Rhodes this week with a tour firm — what is the situation?
A: Jet2 has cancelled all trips to Rhodes until Sunday, and affected customers will receive a full refund or re-booking. Meanwhile, TUI has cancelled all trips until Friday and until Sunday for those visiting hotels in the affected region. EasyJet has also cancelled all package holidays until today.
Q: What if I booked my trip independently?
A: British Airways is running a full schedule to Rhodes but offers customers the chance to amend their bookings or postpone them free of charge. Ryanair is running flights as normal and anyone not wishing to travel will lose their money.
Q: Now Corfu has wildfires impacting tourist destinations, what if I am travelling there?
A: On Sunday, TUI told customers going to four hotels near the fires not to travel, but to contact the firm to discuss their options. As yet, other tour operators have not cancelled trips.
Q: I am going to Greece soon but the fires are a worry — can I cancel and get my money back?
A: Unless the Government issues official advice warning against all but essential travel to the areas affected, you would lose your money if you choose not to go on holiday.
Some 20,000 people had to leave homes and hotels over the weekend as the inferno spread and reached coastal resorts on the verdant island’s southeast, after charring swathes of land and damaging buildings.
Firefighters on the island are still battling the flames as thousands of people have been forced to evacuate burning hotels, with tourists scrambling to get home on evacuation flights.
The deputy mayor of Rhodes, Konstantinos Taraslias, said the fires are still burning out of control after seven days of fighting them.
More than 16,000 people have been evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels.
One clip shows a boat carrying people away from raging smoke in the background before they are dropped safely at a port.
Meanwhile, shocking before and after pictures reveal the charred remains of a five-star resort in Rhodes after it was destroyed by raging wildfires.
The video starts with holidaymakers relaxing by the pool at the luxury Lindos Imperial Resort and Spa, in the village of Kiotari.
But the “out of control” fire sparked a mass evacuation, sending at least 19,000 people fleeing.
In the second part of the clip, the same pool area of the hotel is covered in ash, while a few burned loungers can be seen in the background.
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