The weirdest reasons for flight delays

Amateur aviator Larry Walters famously built a flying machine in 1982 that consisted of a patio chair with 45 helium-filled weather balloons attached to it. He took flight, reaching an altitude of 15,000ft, before floating into controlled airspace above Los Angeles International Airport, causing widespread disruption to services.

(H)air style

In a widely disputed incident at the same airport, former President Bill Clinton allegedly delayed several departures so a stylist could finish cutting his hair cut on board Air Force One.

TMI

An American Airlines flight from Dallas was delayed in 2012 after a flight attendant began "ranting" over the PA system that the plane had technical difficulties and was likely to crash. A colleague attempted to reassure passengers, who became understandably unnerved. The plane returned to the gate and the flight attendant was removed.

Bomb scare

A Delta flight from Istanbul to New York was once diverted to Dublin after a passenger attempted to charge their mobile phone using the shaving socket in the aircraft's lavatory. The device was discovered by staff, who feared it was a bomb.

Foul smell

Another Delta flight from Minnesota to Los Angeles made an emergency landing in 2011 due to a broken toilet. The incident came to light after Guns n' Roses guitarist Slash, who was on board, tweeted about it. Another passenger told reporters: "It stunk... there was a flight attendant standing by the door asking people not to go number two." The passenger responsible for the mishap was never found.

Pythons on a plane

Two flights were cancelled in Australia in 2009 following scenes reminiscent of the cult movie Snakes on a Plane. A dozen Stimson's pythons were being transported from Alice Springs to Melbourne on a Qantas flight, but when the plane landed it was discovered that four were missing. Despite an extensive search, the four creatures were never recovered.

Airport chase

In April 2011, a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy caused delays at New York's La Guardia Airport after it broke free as it was being loaded onto a plane. Ground staff frantically chased the dog for 20 minutes before it was captured. A similar incident involving a whippet occurred at Manchester Airport later that year, delaying a dozen flights.

Urinating Frenchman

A flight from Paris to Dublin was once delayed for two hours after Gerard Depardieu urinated on the floor. The plane had been waiting to take-off when the portly French actor demanded to use the loo. After cabin crew refused, he decided to go on the carpet. The jet was forced to return to the gate so staff could clean up. "You could tell he'd been drinking," one passenger claimed.

Overweight

An easyJet flight to Geneva was once delayed for an hour-an-a-half after it was deemed too heavy to take off. A man on board claimed he and fellow passengers stumped up £400 in cash to convince four people to disembark, allowing it to fly.

Haha, oh you're being serious

In 2009 a Continental flight from Houston to Columbus, Ohio, was delayed for an hour after a pair of otters escaped from the cargo hold. Passengers assumed cabin crew were joking when an announcement was made, until they saw the animals dashing across the tarmac. They were eventually captured and the plane was cleared for Tarka-off.

Breeding season

Slow-moving turtles interrupted services at JFK Airport in 2011. The animals wandered onto the runway in search of their seasonal breeding grounds, shutting runway 4L for an hour.

The Telegraph, London

See also: Ridiculous reasons for flight delays and plane turn-arounds
See also: Flight attendants: What they're really think about passengers