Trauma at Manchester airpoort

Meg4428

On the 29th May 2018 my husband and i were at Manchester airport Terminal 2 gate 28 waiting to board our flight with Tui to Palma before boarding the Marrella Dream for a 2 week cruise.
Just as my husband and I arrived at the desk there was an extremely loud 'Bang' then a small delay before the whole building shook as if it was going to fall down.
My initial thought was 'Bomb' then 'Earthquake'.
There was some cry's of shock and all passengers and staff looked round at each other with combined shock and fear.
Nothing else happened for a minuet or so and boarding was continued.
A minuet or so later it happened again just as sever. This time the panic was more pronounced.
More screaming and crying especially from the children.
I started to have a panic attack and held on to my husband tightly in fear.
Everybody moved away from the middle to the sides of the area.
On doing so it became clear that the floor had dropped and the seating area was bowed down.
Then it happened again. Further panic ensued and the people on the far side were advised to move over to the side nearest the main area.
After about 10 minuets of everybody waiting with no information or instructions some officials arrived with the fire brigade to inspect the area. It was clear that the floor had collapsed and there was a large crack from the ceiling going down the wall beside a main roof beam.
The only information gleaned by a passenger from an overheard conversation between the officials was that a metal beam under the floor had failed/snapped? This information soon was passed around causing further fear.
Another 30 or so minuets of waiting still with no information or instructions from any official there, we were told that boarding would continue with people being filtered in single file around the edge of the floor to the gate.
There was murmurings of disquiet from many people.
I was so frighted by this that I started to have another panic attack ( I suffer from anxiety anyway) and held tightly on to my husband as we shuffled our way slowly to the desk.
My husband had to keep talking softly to me to try to calm me down.
Then just as we reached the desk it happened again!
This time the general panic was pronounced, I screamed and my husband had to stop me from just running for my life in blind panic.
At which point an official lifted his arms up and threw them forward and instructed 'Everybody Out' we were all ushered through the doors out on to the tarmac.
We were out there for about 20-30 minuets before the Fire chief gave a brief chat to the effect of 'Sorry you are all out here in this heat, we are trying to get this sorted as quickly as possible', before being directed back in to the main terminal building via another door.
After another 20-30 minuets wait we were directed to the other end of the terminal were we were able to continue boarding.
All this again with no information, or reassurances from any of the staff.
We finally took off 2.5 hrs late.

Can anybody tell me if we would have a claim and if so would it be with TUI or the airport.
We understand as the delay was less than 3 hrs we most likely would not be able to claim for that, but we would like to know if we can claim for the trauma that we suffered through this horrendous experience.

Many thanks in advance Meg x

jpsartre

No claim for trauma under EU regulations.

Money_maker

I dont think this could have been predicted and the staff appeared to be as apologetic as they could. Perhaps you could seek some therapy for your panic attacks to stop you 'just running for my life in blind panic'.

z1a

At least you could have a dance to all the minuets.

Meg4428

Money Maker I appreciate your reply but I think you may has over looked some information.
You say 'the staff appeared to be as apologetic as they could'.
Yet I clearly mention a number of times that we received no communication or reassurance throughout the whole episode.
Yes I suffer from anxiety as I said but never in my life before have I felt such fear for my life. The panic attacks were caused by the situation and a genuine fear that our life might be in danger.
This threat was felt not only by me but by many others we spoke to during and after the event.

Meg4428

Sorry z1a my spelling has always been a difficulty for me.

k3lvc

Meg4428 wrote: »

Money Maker I appreciate your reply but I think you may has over looked some information.
You say 'the staff appeared to be as apologetic as they could'.
Yet I clearly mention a number of times that we received no communication or reassurance throughout the whole episode.
Yes I suffer from anxiety as I said but never in my life before have I felt such fear for my life. The panic attacks were caused by the situation and a genuine fear that our life might be in danger.
This threat was felt not only by me but by many others we spoke to during and after the event.

So cut to the chase - what price do you put on your 'trauma' ?

jpsartre

Meg4428 wrote: »

Yet I clearly mention a number of times that we received no communication or reassurance throughout the whole episode.

You also say the fire chief briefed you after 20-30 min. So which is it? No doubt it was an unpleasant experience but I don't know what you're looking to get.

Meg4428

jpsartre the talk from the fire chief was as i said 'Sorry you are all out here in this heat, we are trying to get this sorted as quickly as possible', I do not consider that a briefing. No explanation or reassurance for the situation was given.

Ivrytwr3

Would read again!

There was structural damage to the building, no bomb or earthquake and you departed 2.5hrs late - but you DID depart and no doubt had a great cruise (if you were that traumatised why did you not seek medical help and not go on the cruise?)

I'd be thankful no-one was injured, it wasn't a bomb or earthquake and move on with my life rather than try to pin the blame on someone to make a bit £££.

Meg4428

K3lvc, so i am feeling like you are demeaning our experience.
I am not asking 'how much' just 'do we have a claim', the amount is not important.
It was the lack of cohesive action by the staff that made the situation even more frightening than it necessarily needed to be.
In this day and age of bombing and terrorist attacks I think we and all the other passengers were justified in being so fearful. Don't you agree.