Jet2 UK-bound flight from Spain in chaos after 'wing tip hit'

A Jet2 Holidays flight from Palma de Mallorca to Bristol was disrupted for several hours after its wingtip was struck by boarding stairs, according to multiple accounts from passengers. The incident occurred on August 16, 2026, during the departure of flight LS1872, which was scheduled to take off at 10:25 am local time. Passengers were initially informed of a two-hour delay due to an "air traffic restriction," but the situation escalated when a ground vehicle collided with the aircraft’s wingtip shortly afterward. Passenger Finley described the unfolding chaos. He stated he was at Palma Airport when the collision took place, noting that the affected aircraft was a Jet2Holidays B737 Max 8. According to his account, the flight had already been delayed once, with travelers told they would have to wait for two hours. An hour later, they were given the green light to proceed, only for the ground vehicle to strike the wingtip minutes later. After being sent back to the terminal, passengers spent additional time waiting before being allowed to board again, with the revised departure time set for 3 pm local time, nearly four hours behind schedule. The flight was originally intended to arrive in the UK at 4 pm, making it significantly late compared to its planned arrival time. Finley expressed frustration over the ordeal, stating that despite the long delay, he was relieved to finally be able to board the plane. “We were only here for a few nights,” he said, adding that the experience of taking a taxi early in the morning and then boarding the plane six hours after arrival felt like a “nightmare.” The incident highlights the potential for operational disruptions in airline operations, particularly when unexpected events occur on the tarmac. While the exact cause of the collision remains under investigation, the sequence of events suggests a chain of delays triggered by both administrative factors and physical damage to the aircraft. Jet2 Holidays has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the incident, though the Daily Mirror has reached out to the company for further information. The location of the incident, Palma de Mallorca, a popular tourist destination, adds context to the scale of the disruption. With many travelers relying on timely flights to return home, such incidents can have ripple effects beyond the immediate inconvenience to passengers. The airport authorities and airline staff were reportedly working to manage the situation, ensuring safety protocols were followed while attempting to minimize further delays. This event underscores the challenges faced by airlines in maintaining punctuality amid unforeseen circumstances. It also raises questions about the measures in place to prevent similar incidents in the future, including the handling of ground equipment near aircraft during boarding procedures. As the investigation into the collision proceeds, the focus will likely shift toward understanding whether procedural lapses contributed to the incident and what steps might be taken to avoid recurrence. For now, the passengers remain hopeful that their journey will conclude without further complications.