Overview
- TUI said ground equipment became stuck at the rear of the aircraft, causing hours on the tarmac before the crew hit legal duty limits requiring a 12‑hour rest.
- Roughly 300 passengers disembarked around 7:15am local time, with travelers reporting a promised TUI representative did not reach the gate.
- A Swissport representative told passengers only 90 hotel rooms were available across different hotels, leaving many without accommodation.
- Photos and eyewitness accounts showed children sleeping on terminal floors as some families sought medication or paid out of pocket, including a €100 taxi to a remote hotel.
- The flight eventually departed for Manchester at about 2:00am on Sunday, 24 August, and UK outlets reported TUI declined to comment as affected travelers set up a Facebook group to share updates.