Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

EasyJet pilot writes absence notes for pupils aboard delayed flight

'Some of them were pleased they were going to be missing school the next day, but some were looking a bit nervous'

Serina Sandhu
Monday 14 December 2015 10:47 GMT
Comments
The pilot of the EasyJet plane was flying from Cyprus to London [file image]
The pilot of the EasyJet plane was flying from Cyprus to London [file image] (Getty)

A pilot has written more than 30 absence notes for school children who were forced to miss school after the flight was delayed.

Easyjet’s Captain Wayne Mott, was trying to fly the passengers - including the children and their families and three teachers - from Cyprus to London Gatwick at the end of half term on Sunday 1 November.

But heavy fog meant the flight was delayed for hours and eventually had to be rescheduled for the following Monday morning.

Mr Mott, who has been a pilot for 15 years, told Petersfield Post: “Some of [the children] were pleased they were going to be missing school the next day, but some were looking a bit nervous.”

“I wrote all sorts of things to the teachers explaining the absences," said Mr Mott, adding that he even wrote a note excusing a teacher.

Joshua Skuse, who attends Herne Junior School in Petersfield, was one of the students who passed the letter onto his school.

EasyJet’s 20th birthday present to frequent flyers

After apologising for the eight-year-old's absence, the letter cited the following reason: “He has been involved in a secret mission in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea at very short notice."

"We hope that the mission will soon be complete and that he will see you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on Tuesday morning.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in