Browsing Tag extraordinary circumstances
The Court of Justice rules on the possibility of considering as an “extraordinary circumstance” the detection of a hidden design defect in an aircraft’s engine, even when the air carrier had been informed in advance of its existence
The detection of a hidden defect in the design of the engine of an aircraft which is to operate a flight is covered by the concept of “extraordinary circumstances” within the meaning of Regulation No 261/2004 even where the engine manufacturer had informed the air carrier of its existence several months before the flight concerned
The Court of Justice rules on the possibility to consider technical failures caused by a hidden design defect revealed by the manufacturer after cancellation of the flight as an “extraordinary circumstance”
The occurrence of an unexpected and unprecedented technical failure affecting a new aircraft model recently put into service, which results in the air carrier cancelling a flight, falls within the concept of “extraordinary circumstances” according to Regulation No 261/2004 where the aircraft’s manufacturer recognises, after that cancellation, that that failure was caused by a hidden design defect concerning all aircraft of the same type and impinging on flight safety
The Court of Justice rules on the possibility to consider the shortage of staff of the airport operator providing baggage loading services as an “extraordinary circumstance”
Despite the fact that there being an insufficient number of staff of the airport operator responsible for the operations of loading baggage onto planes may constitute an “extraordinary circumstance” according to Regulation No 261/2004, in order to be exempted from its obligation to pay compensation to passengers the air carrier whose flight has experienced a long delay on account of such circumstance is required to show that it could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken and that it adopted measures appropriate to the situation to avoid the consequences thereof
Air transport. The Court of Justice rules on the concepts of “extraordinary circumstances” and “unruly passengers”
The unruly behaviour of an air passenger may constitute an “extraordinary circumstance” within the meaning of Regulation No 261/2004. Furthermore, the air carrier may rely on an “extraordinary circumstance” even if it takes place on a previous flight, provided there is a direct causal link between that circumstance and the delay or cancellation of the subsequent flight