Air France: Out of gas? Ask passengers to pitch in
An emergency layover in Syria's capital was bad enough. Then passengers on Air France Flight 562 were asked to open their wallets to check if they had enough cash to pay for more fuel.
The plane, heading from Paris to Lebanon's capital, diverted amid clashes near the Beirut airport on Wednesday. Low on fuel, it instead landed in Damascus, the capital of neighboring Syria, where a civil war is raging.
An Air France spokesman explained Friday that the crew inquired about passenger cash only as a "precautionary measure" because of the "very unusual circumstances." Sanctions against Syria complicated payment for extra fuel.
He said Air France found a way to pay for the fill-up without tapping customer pockets - and apologized for the inconvenience.
The plane landed safely in Beirut.
AP
More News
- Officials compile damage from Oklahoma tornado
- FBI kills florida man with suspected ties to Boston bomb suspect
- NY funeral for student accidentally shot by police
- Turkey Shuts Syria Border Crossing After Deadly Bombs
- Kerry: US, allies, ready to step up aid rebels
- London attack leaves one dead, 2 hospitalized
- EU steps up fight against tax evasion by end 2013
- Costa Concordia Shipwreck Captain To Face Manslaughter Trial
- Rescuers Search Oklahoma Tornado Town Ruins
- Apple's Cook faces Senate questions on taxes
