Passengers slept overnight on the FLOOR in an airport after a Ryanair flight from Manchester was forced to make a sudden diversion.
The flight on May 12, destined for Faro, had to suddenly land in Nantes, France after a member of crew on board became unwell.
However after landing, passengers were told the flight could not continue to their final destination until the following day, something that Ryanair says was due to a 'strict curfew' at Nantes.
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One passenger, Joanne Wharton told the Manchester Evening News that after landing, they remained sat on the runway for two hours with 'no access' to water before disembarking and going inside the airport.
It was at this point that Joanne claimed there was some confusion with staff about passengers being offered overnight accommodation, before they were later told there was 'limited availability' in hotels. They were given mats to sleep on the floor in an airport conference room.
Joanne said: "We remained on the runway in Nantes for approximately two hours with no access to water. I was informed by flight crew that there was no suitable drinking water available.
"At approximately midnight, the Captain announced very clearly that we needed to leave the plane, go into Nantes airport and a member of staff would be there to take us to our hotel for the evening.
"When we arrived in the airport, it was entirely deserted, with no clear indication of where to find a member of support staff. I eventually found a member of staff who informed me he did not know what was going to happen and asked me to wait.
"Gradually as the rest of the passengers arrived, small pieces of information were fed to us via the rest of the passengers. Firstly, we found out that there were no hotels available other than for families with children.
"Later, the staff informed us that they were going to open a conference room upstairs in the airport and we were all to sleep in the one space together. The passengers walked up to the room, to find a pile of 'gym mats' which everyone took and lay on the floor with. Some blankets arrived soon after. We were entirely left to fend for ourselves."
She later received a text message while in Nantes airport from Ryanair asking her speak to staff in order to get further instructions regarding a hotel - before being told there were no options available.
Joanne claims the conference room was 'unsafe' with swathes of passengers all sleeping on the floor together. Ryanair have said that passengers were urged to find their own arrangements at the last minute and claim the money back.
The rescheduled flight to Faro eventually departed at around 10am the following morning and arrived at midday - meaning the delay was a total of 13 hours.
However Joanne, who has since set up a dedicated Facebook group regarding the flight mishap with over 100 members, said there was no food or drink available on the second flight.
"I am utterly disgusted and shocked at the way we were treated," she said. "I was travelling by myself and as a young female, I was traumatised by the experience. Having to 'sleep' in a room with approximately 200 strangers, I felt entirely unsafe," she said.
"Our very basic needs such as food, water and safety were not met and as one person pointed out, we felt like we were being treated as refugees.
"This experience entirely ruined my short weekend away in Portugal due to the absence of any sleep on the Friday night and the ongoing trauma I experienced from the lack of safety and lack of basic needs being met."
The M.E.N contacted Ryanair with the claims, with a spokesperson saying: "This flight from Manchester to Faro (12 May) diverted to Nantes when an operating cabin crew member became ill. The flight landed normally, and the cabin crew member disembarked, however due to the strict curfew at Nantes Airport, the flight could not continue to Faro until the following morning.
"Passengers were notified and advised of their options however as there was limited hotel availability in the area, passengers were advised to make their own arrangements and claim expenses back at Ryanair.com. Some passengers opted to stay in the airport and were provided with mattresses, blankets and refreshments."
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