- Mohammed Patel, 24, was set for a dream trip to Dubai with his two friends
- But when they arrived at Manchester Airport the flight was repeatedly delayed
- He complained and was told a mouse onboard was responsible for the delays
A holidaymaker was left fuming when his dream trip to Dubai was delayed by nearly 12 hours after a mouse was spotted scurrying about the plane.
Mohammed Patel, 24, was set for a once in a lifetime journey to the UAE city with two friends but when they got to Manchester Airport on September 25 their flight was repeatedly delayed.
They were due to take off at 10am but it was then pushed back to midday before he was forced to get on a coach to Birmingham Airport.
They eventually left the tarmac at 9.40pm – nearly 12 hours later than planned.
The Emirates flight was due to take off at 10am but it was then pushed back to midday before he was forced to get on a coach to Birmingham Airport (stock photo)
Software engineer Mr Patel, from Leeds, paid £360 for his flights but claims he was given no explanation for the delay.
It was only when he complained a week later that the airline replied telling him a mouse onboard had grounded the flight.
To make matters worse, the airline are refusing to compensate him and Mr Patel claims they said the incident counted as ‘exceptional circumstances’.
He said: ‘They did not tell us until the last minute that we were having to get a coach to Birmingham, so we were still queuing at the gate at Manchester when they told us.
‘They’re now saying it was exceptional circumstances so we’re not entitled to compensation.’
Mohammed Patel, 24, was set for a once in a lifetime journey to the UAE city with two friends but when they got to Manchester Airport, pictured, on September 25 their flight was repeatedly delayed (stock photo)
Mr Patel claims around 800 passengers were set to board the Airbus 380 aircraft to Dubai, which has a capacity for 838 people.
He added: ‘It’s an absolutely ridiculous excuse. How can they say it’s nothing to do with them? We lost the first day of our dream holiday.
‘The mouse should never have been onboard the flight. After all this we were very, very close to not even going. It was so frustrating.’
MailOnline has approached Emirates for comment.