Pilot delays plane over fat fears

The plane finally took off after the protests

An EgyptAir pilot refused to take off after objecting to the weight of one of his female passengers.

The departure from Cairo airport was delayed three hours as a relative of the "obese" woman and other passengers defended her, Egyptian media report.

Health officials said she was fit to fly despite the captain's protests.

The plane finally took off for Dubai with the woman aboard but five other passengers stayed behind, saying the incident was a bad omen.

The identity and weight of the woman involved were not given.

The pilot had asked her to leave, saying he feared she would be affected by flying, the Egyptian state news agency reports.

However, a child accompanying the woman defended her, and other passengers joined them.

Even when health officials confirmed she was capable of flying, the captain continued to object but finally backed down and Flight 870 took off.