Passengers Forced to Sleep on Floors as Storm Isha Diverts Flight to Paris

Passengers on an easyJet flight were forced to sleep on the floor as Storm Isha caused their plane to be diverted 400 miles away to Paris. The flight, originating from Edinburgh, circled Bristol for a while before the pilot decided to change the route due to adverse weather conditions. After their arrival in Paris, passengers were kept waiting on the tarmac for around three hours while staff debated whether it was safe to return to Bristol. Eventually, it was decided that all passengers would stay in Paris, with some being forced to sleep on the airport floor.

Tom Shepard, a passenger on the flight, managed to find a lounger for an 84-year-old passenger to sleep on. He expressed initial disbelief when the pilot announced the diversion, questioning why there were no other UK airports they could land at. Frustration grew among passengers as they were made to wait on the tarmac in Paris for hours. French authorities, however, would not allow them to leave the terminal without passports.

Passengers are now hoping to board a plane to Bristol at 1pm, following multiple cancellations due to continuing strong winds in the area. EasyJet has apologised for the inconvenience caused and has provided hotel accommodation and meals to minimize the impact for customers.

In other news, National Grid Electricity Distribution is set to resume work on the A38 near Bristol Airport. The project involves upgrading the electricity network by installing new underground high voltage cables. The work, which aims to replace deteriorated cables dating back to the 1950s, had initially started in the autumn but was suspended in December due to a fault at a Portishead substation. The project will be completed by February 2, and a contraflow system will be implemented to manage traffic.

Lewis Smith, an area team manager for National Grid, apologised for the delays and inconvenience caused to commuters using the A38 and Bristol Airport. The £300,000 project is crucial to improve the network and ensure more reliable power supply for locals, as well as meet the growing demand for electricity in the region.