London - Passengers on a flight from Britain to Crete were given the choice of either arriving at their destination without their bags or getting off the plane, British media reported Wednesday.

Already seated aboard the flight, the passengers of a Viking airlines flight were told the aircraft needed to reduce its weight before the journey and that either half the passengers would have to disembark, or they could all go, but without their luggage.

Only a few persons left the plane, but the majority stayed and flew onward, delayed by several hours, and with any luggage.

A promise by the airline that the passengers' luggage would directly follow them apparently came to naught, as passengers waited days in Crete for the arrival of their possessions.

"I've had to spend hundreds on essentials like toiletries because we had none of our possessions," Sandra Kendall was quoted as saying. "It totally spoiled our holiday."

Kosmar XL, the agency that booked the airline, speculated that atmospheric conditions may have played a role in the strange request. (dpa)