Strangest Delay Reason Experinced: Don't Check Melons!

[serfty]

I'm waiting in AKL for boarding to commence for my Air NZ flight to MEL. This has been delayed 40 minutes as, on the inbound flight from Nandi, luggage had been checked containing Melons.

Apparently, they exploded while in flight and the hold of the A320 now has to be scrubbed before luggage can be loaded!

That's a completely new one on me ...

Has anyone else had something similar and/or as wierd delay their flight significantly.

 

[pacblue]

I had a similar experience a few years back on a flight from TBU (Nuku'alofa in Tonga) to MEL via AKL. a crate of pumpkin squash (apparently one of Tonga's main ag exports) had exploded , spreading slime all over the joint.

A/C hold and its contents had to be washed out in NZ before we could proceed (4 hours later !!!)

Apparently the squash were over-ripe !.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Funnily enough I have had this happen to me before!

 

[JAB]

PRobably a good thing anyway. I was delayed out of MEL today due to the smoke that was covering Victoria. 2 Hour delay which was also caused by a broken plane apparently.

 

[serfty]

PRobably a good thing anyway. I was delayed out of MEL today due to the smoke that was covering Victoria. 2 Hour delay which was also caused by a broken plane apparently.

Actually; after making my way back to the gate an announcement was made that it wasn't exploding Melons but Exploding Mangoes!

By the time we boarded I was still wondering how mangoes could actually explode. Melons, possibly, but mangoes?

All became clear with the Pilot's pre-flight announcement that it was in fact jars of pickled mangoes that had indeed exploded and it was a corrosive pickling fluid that had leaked out into the hold, necessitating cleanup before it damaged the aircraft.

On a more mundane note, we waited another 40 minutes after boarding while the passenger luggage was loaded

And, yes, the smoke from the bush fires affected airport visibility at MEL causing a 20 minute holding pattern.

 

[Tooner]

Maybe not Melons, but definitely a melon-head!

Years ago we got delayed in Air NZ out of LAX when a clown on the ground drove his truck into the landing gear of the 747. 4.5 hours later, we jetted off!!

 

[JohnK]

All became clear with the Pilot's pre-flight announcement that it was in fact jars of pickled mangoes that had indeed exploded and it was a corrosive pickling fluid that had leaked out into the hold, necessitating cleanup before it damaged the aircraft.

Corrosive pickling fluid! Pickled mangoes are fit for human consumption but could damage an aircraft.

 

[straitman]

Corrosive pickling fluid! Pickled mangoes are fit for human consumption but could damage an aircraft.

....as is coke, water and a host of other goodies. :mrgreen:

 

[Flying Fox]

Yes, me too.

Melons exploding and plane needed a wash out before we could leave either KUL or SIN to come back to AUS.

 

[needaholiday]

I flew MEL-SYD Sunday as well, we were delayed by smoke in MEL and major delays in landing at SYD as they were only able use the East West RWY due to prevailing winds, then.....only to be met by furthers delays leaving the airport with a traffic jam at the departures kerb while sitting in the LT car park shuttle bus due to cars 'doing the loop' trying to pick up delayed passengers!