TUI fly passengers stranded in Varna after bus hits aircraft

Around 188 passengers remain stranded in Varna, Bulgaria, after a passenger bus collided with a TUI fly Belgium Boeing 737 MAX 8 on Tuesday, 8 September. The aircraft, registered OO-TMT, had operated from Brussels to Burgas before continuing to Varna as flight TB2861. The aircraft arrived safely in Varna, but while passengers were being prepared for the return flight to Brussels, a passenger bus struck the aircraft’s wing. The damage prevented the Boeing 737 MAX from operating the scheduled flight back to Belgium. Flight-tracking data confirms the aircraft remained in Varna after the incident.

Among the passengers was Gianni Peeters from Schoten, who told Belgian media that the situation did not feel like an extra day of holiday. Passengers were accommodated in hotels while TUI worked on arrangements to bring them home.

However, information about the recovery operation remains limited. TUI fly spokesperson Piet Demeyere was unable to provide many details about the aircraft’s damage, the investigation or the precise arrangements for the passengers.

Flight-tracking information currently shows TB2861 scheduled to depart Varna for Brussels on Wednesday, 9 September at 16:00, with an estimated arrival in Brussels at 18:50. It is not yet clear whether this represents the definitive recovery flight for the stranded passengers or a rescheduled operation.

The incident has caused considerable frustration among passengers, who were expecting to return to Belgium on Tuesday but instead had to spend another night in Bulgaria. Eventually, the aircraft departed Varna on Wednesday (9 September) at 22:15 local time, and is expected in Brussels shortly after midnight

Featured image caption: TUI fly Belgium Boeing 737 MAX 8 OO-MAX. The aircraft involved in the incident in Varna is OO-TMT