Air France asks passengers for whip-round to pay for fuel after emergency stop in Damascus.
Passengers on an Air France flight were asked to "chip in" to pay cash for a refuel after their plane was forced to land in the violence-wracked Syrian capital Damascus, the company confirmed.
3:59PM BST 17 Aug 2012
The plane had been due to land in Beirut on Wednesday night but was diverted due to violent demonstrations near the airport of the Lebanese capital.
The captain first announced the plane would land in Amman in Jordan but due to lack of fuel he was forced to divert to Syria, where rebels are fighting to oust the dictatorial regime of President Bashar Assad.
Emergency permission was granted to land in Damascus, just 50 miles from Beirut.
Once on the ground, the crew told the 174 passengers
they were unable to use the Air France company credit card they were unable to use the Air France company credit card they were unable to use the Air France company credit card
to refuel the plane because of financial sanctions imposed on Syria by the West.
They then asked for a whip round among the mainly French and Lebanese travellers to pay for the thousands of litres of kerosene needed to reach Larnaca in Cyprus – the nearest safe airport.
Lebanese passenger May Bsat told France Info: "The pilot asked first class passengers to give him cash, as apparently Damascus airport authorities had refused to give fuel to the plane. Everyone started rooting around for money and managed to raise 17,000 dollars (£11,000)." "But in the end the pilot took nothing, telling us that Air France had resolved the problem with the airport. Then they told us to take off our seat belts as there was a risk the plane could catch fire during refuelling and that we should run if told to." Another female passenger told Europe 1: "It was a horrible night. We spent two hours in Damascus with the plane blinds down. The captain told us: 'Don't take any videos or photos.'"
A 23-year-old engineer called Roland later said: "We could see through the window a lot of haggling going on because Air France's fuel account with Damascus had been cancelled after they stopped flying in March.
"Because of the terrible relations between France and Syria, a lot of the passengers were very worried about landing there."
An Air France spokesman later confirmed that the passengers had been asked for money after in landed in Damascus on Wednesday.
He added: "The crew at first offered to pay for the fuel in Damascus with a credit card but the transaction was impossible because of financial sanctions.
"As a precaution and in anticipation, the crew asked how much money the passengers had in cash to pay to fill up with fuel.
"However a solution was finally found to fill up the plane without borrowing cash from the passengers and the plane took off for Larnaca two hours later."
The plane finally landed in Beirut on Thursday afternoon, 20 hours after take-off from Paris on what should have been a three-hour flight.
French diplomats were furious with Air France's decision to land in Damascus given the animosity between France and President Assad. Yesterday French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said his regime must be "smashed fast".
Found another one where a Passenger shelled out 21,000 to pay for fuel - People at 24 Hour Fitness are waiting for me to come in so their day will be complete
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 6 years ago, 51 minutes later, 53 minutes after the original post[^][v]#1,067,415
Get off the computer and drink your carton of chocolate milk before it gets warm you old goat.
Anonymous D joined in and replied with this 6 years ago, 55 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^][v]#1,067,426
Stop talking about yourself in the third person, and stop talking to yourself in threads. No one believes you refueled a pan am 747 with your credit card for $11,000 in Spain
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 6 years ago, 8 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^][v]#1,067,431
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 6 years ago, 2 hours later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#1,067,483
what 24 hours do you go to
Syntax replied with this 6 years ago, 20 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#1,067,486
@previous (F)
Usually split between one 3 Miles North of me in Encinitas - When and this is often I have to hang at 78/5 Freeway at the Verizon Base Station then it's Carlsbad at what used to be Westfield Mall - Forget the silly new name - I can see the Gym from the roof of the Cell site and it's ideal after working mostly on the floor with my neck jammed up in2 my equipment - Just knowing the Sauna and Whirlpool n Jacuzzi is minutes away for neck relief.
Buttttt no pun intended 2Morrow it will be the one in Hillcrest right at the 163 hwy off ramp at 5th - This one is 95+% Gay as all fuck. Does have a huge number of different types of Stair Steppers and Treadmills of several brands - The two I normally go to have all one brand of just about everything
Tomorrow the Faggot one because I can dress in total Christmas gear and hit Robinson right to Balboa Park and C if I dare park Free at the Zoo or I have my famous back up plan that is a little more walking but well worth the easy in EASY OUT - There is NO Easy Out for free parking during December Nites.
Syntax double-posted this 6 years ago, 4 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^][v]#1,067,487
AND AND 2 B totally clear - In Image I can be found to the right of the Museum Entrance and the Music and Gator/Bayou theme makes it real easy to find me - Unless I am out and about to find food or check out a Museum BUT ONLY when it's a band I am not so much so in2
Also I have several bottles of Patron and Grand Mayan Reposado Tequila with some classy shot glasses - So come on by and say Hello - Can connect ya with a gal that will show you how to dance real fast
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 6 years ago, 21 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,665
What makes you think that? Is it the fact he's oblivious to the plot holes in his own ridiculous stories about gassing up commercial airliners with his own credit card, even though that it is a legal and practical impossibility?
Anonymous K replied with this 6 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,754
@previous (H)
I don't even think he's been for a jog since his 60's
Anonymous B replied with this 6 years ago, 4 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,758
@previous (K)
Anyone that was at December Nights tonight...Will laugh at your understanding of the Real Syntax, in motion on the dance floor/
Anonymous K replied with this 6 years ago, 4 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,764
@previous (B)
Hey now listen here Syntax in the third person, that's not Syntax_dancing_with_the_fat_black_lady.gif though. Remember that one? From the wine and cheese show!
Anonymous B replied with this 6 years ago, 19 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,775
@previous (K)
I understand you're only turned on by very hairy large men. A woman skinny or overweight is far more better by 1 Zillion Percent than a Dude.
Fact is I was supposed to really stand still with feet moving in tap tap to the beat. Showcasing HER.
So enjoy your men with hairy bodies and remember when you marry one of them, they later will end up fat and obese, and that older dick you will suck, probably has your sewage on it.
Anonymous K replied with this 6 years ago, 12 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,778
@previous (B) > Fact is I was supposed to really stand still with feet moving in tap tap to the beat. Showcasing HER.
Perhaps people need to judge the gif for themselves, if you are making that sort of claim
Anonymous L joined in and replied with this 6 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,779
There was a pic posted of syntax dancing with a Jewish looking woman a few years ago. It looked like
they were just finished with a dance and the woman had a look on her face like she had just smelled cat feces.
Anonymous M joined in and replied with this 6 years ago, 8 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,067,781