By COLlive reporter
It was meant to be a brief 2-hour layover in the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain. Instead, passengers are stranded there for over 8 hours.
In the airport are hundreds of Jews who were in Israel for the holidays of Tishrei and are now heading back home to the United States.
Norwegian Air flight DY7195 traveling to Newark is marked as canceled, with passengers sitting in the Barcelona airport without kosher food and no new routes in sight.
The passengers were told there were “technical delays”, and at this point, they have been on the ground in the terminal for nearly eight hours with nothing to eat.
“It was meant to be a 2-hour stopover, but now we’ve been here since 5 pm (Israel time),” one of the passengers told COLlive.com.
“They didn’t let us leave the airport or security to go to any lounges,” she said. “We have no idea when we will get flights out. As of now, the airline is saying it could be after Shabbos. People are buying new tickets.”
The group of Jewish travelers are rushing home after the conclusion of Simchas Torah and a month-long of holidays and celebrations. Many of them are traveling with young children.
One mother told Yeshiva World News that her children have been drinking water and Sprite as there is nothing else, and they are not being allowed to exit the airport without visas.
Babies have no diapers left, children are sleeping on the floor, and the frustration is kicking in, the woman reported.
Pulling through for the travelers was Rabbi Dovid Libersohn, Director of Chabad Lubavitch de Barcelona, who came to the airport with kosher meals and food. He was met with warm appreciation for his care for fellow Jews.
“Chabad saved the day for us, bringing hot food,” the passenger told COLlive. “We are so grateful.”
Yashur koach to our wonderful Shluchim the world over!! What would people do without Chabad??
do without the foresight of the Rebbe!!
No visa in Barcelona with an American passport
what does that mean?
If you have a US passport you don’t need a visa, and can just leave the airport.
That is crazy. Sounds like they are ‘ being held captive’. On another note amazing how the shluchim who just ende a non stop month of yom tov are able to kick in and make hundreds of fresh meals.
Its about time ppl begin to realize to not fly with these budget carriers who have no backup plan and 9/10 times go our of business bankruptcy. Kudos to the shluchim for coming to the rescue of all these yidden!
COL HACAVOD TO NECHAMA LIBERSOHN
Yes! Why is there no mention of the Shlucha who is probably the one putting together all the food and Staples?
Keeps happening with this specific route…
Last year my flight was delayed over 5 hours with Norwegian, I applied on line with the airline for compensation and received a large compensation, double my ticket. If you spent money on food or lodging, they’ll reimburse you too! Perhaps they can give something to Chabad too!!! This is link to claim for delay: https://www.norwegian.com/uk/ipr/refund#/expenseclaim?rcategory=DELAY
Sholom Leiberson!! Amazing
Find a stranded passenger in any airport requiring food and comfort and you will find Chabad Shluchim with a welcome wagon! The Rebbe’s army is on the case 24/7 and are the angels for whom there is no “problem” – just solutions which are full of compassion and chesed and all done with modesty and humility as if they have nothing else to do but run airport transports and that applies to any potential disasters. May all the shluchim be blessed with abundant hatzlacha and bracha in a very revealed way! Kol a Kavod to Chabad of Barcelona
Israeli or American passports don’t need a visa to enter Spain..
You can always count on Chabad. Truly these people are amazing and they continue to bring light to the world. G-d bless them all. Amen
Passengers are entitled to €600 ($680) compensation each inc. children under EU rules if the reason is technical and more than 3 hours delay, or cancelled and therefore 3 hour delay to your destination. It is easy to do online, you do not need a claims company who would take 35-40% commission, so should cover more than half of original ticket
Baruch Hashem for our Chabad brothers and sisters who provided the group with food, nourishment and hope.
A true and sincere Kiddush HaShem.
Now the world knows why we are an Am Kodosh and an Ohr LaGoyim
A heartfelt Yasher Koach to the Barcelona Chabad community!
Bh we where zoche to be the recipients of this tremendous Chessed. Pls post link where donations can be sent
Ty
Michael Rosenberg
Brooklyn,NY
https://chabadbarcelona.org/en/donacion/
https://chabadbarcelona.org/en/donacion/
Looks better than the food I have at home!
It’serev Shabbos. Did they get home yet? Or are they still stranded??
CHABAD DOES IT AGAIN! ITS JUSTH UNBELIEVABLE HOW THEY ARE SO GENEROUS AND ALWAYS THERE TO GIVE A HELPING HAND!