Passengers were reportedly asked to volunteer to get off an easyJet aircraft because it was too heavy.
The captain of the flight to Malaga from Southend airport said wind conditions meant the weight of the 156-passenger Airbus 319 made it dangerous to take off.
Crew members asked for volunteers while the aircraft sat on the tarmac for more than an hour last week – and ten people selected to leave were offered £250 compensation each.
One passenger told the Sun on Sunday: ‘The biggest mystery is the fact they asked exactly ten passengers to leave, but some were fat, some were thin, some had luggage and some didn’t.
“Quite a few people put their hands up and easyJet just selected a few at random. How can they be sure this brought the plane down to a safe weight? It’s not very reassuring.”
An easyJet spokesman told MailOnline: “EasyJet can confirm that some passengers on a recent flight from Southend to Malaga were asked to take a later flight as weather conditions at Southend meant the aircraft would be too heavy to take off with all onboard.
“Like all airlines, we calculate weight using high average estimates for males and females, along with 20kg baggage.
“In line with EU rules, the passengers who did not travel on the flight were offered £250 compensation and a transfer on to an alternative flight to Malaga.”