Hundreds stranded in Cancún after TUI fly Boeing 787 technical failure cancels Amsterdam flight

Around 305 passengers, including approximately 30 Belgian travellers, have been stranded in Cancún since Saturday after a TUI fly Netherlands flight to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol was cancelled due to a technical issue discovered shortly before departure.

Flight OR822, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered PH-TFJ, was preparing to depart Cancún for Amsterdam on May 9 when a malfunction was identified after passengers had already boarded the aircraft. According to passenger accounts, the problem emerged around 14:20 local time, forcing the flight to be cancelled.

As of May 11, many passengers had been stranded in Mexico for more than two days awaiting replacement travel arrangements.

Several travellers have criticised the airline over what they describe as poor communication and insufficient assistance during the disruption. Passengers reported uncertainty regarding accommodation, rebooking information and departure schedules while waiting in Cancún.

The incident adds to a series of operational difficulties previously experienced on TUI services from Cancún. Similar disruptions involving long delays and technical issues affected flights from the Mexican resort destination in both 2022 and 2024.

The Boeing 787-8 involved in the incident is part of TUI fly Netherlands’ long-haul fleet used on leisure routes between Europe and the Caribbean. Technical faults discovered before departure are generally handled conservatively on long-haul operations, particularly on extended transatlantic sectors where diversion options are more limited.

No injuries were reported, and the cancellation occurred before the aircraft departed.