PASSENGERS, whose eight-hour flight was delayed, landed three hours from Bournemouth, journeying back on a 'bitterly cold' coach.

Ruth Beck was supposed to be travelling back from Dalaman airport in Turkey at 9.10pm on Friday, September 27.

Following an eight-hour delay, the 180 passengers on the TUI flight would be redirected to Stansted Airport.

Ruth said: "We weren't told anything; they had a captive audience of people wondering what would happen next?"

When flight TOM299 arrived at Stansted, it was 4am and Ruth said "it felt like we had been deserted".

"TUI didn't provide any rep support upon arrival at Stanstead, and it was by luck rather than any support that most of the passengers found their way to some coaches.

"I suspect that not all passengers found the coaches as there was no one checking names to ensure all were accounted for," Ruth said.

Along with 40 other "unlucky passengers", Ruth and her friend, who she had been on holiday with, were put on a coach with a broken heating system.

She said: "When we got on the coach, we were so relieved because we thought we would be able to take a nap.

"In five-degree temperatures and driving back to Bournemouth at 4am in bitterly cold temperatures, it was like a fridge on wheels.

"Honestly, by the end of it, you just felt awful because we were all in summer clothes."

The coach pulled into Bournemouth airport at 7.30am on Saturday, September 28.

Ruth added: "TUI are liable to pay compensation as the flight had a technical fault, resulting in a detour to Brussels, meaning it didn't arrive at Dalaman to meet its departure slot.

"However, passengers are gathering on Facebook to report mixed responses to their claims.

"I have been told there is no record of me and my travelling friend on their systems, despite showing them our booking details and boarding passes."

Ruth said TUI has not responded to her complaints, adding: "Delays can happen, but the care provided by TUI and lack of clarity about companion claims is abysmal."

The Echo has approached TUI for a comment. 

Bournemouth Airport operates from 6.30am to 9.30pm, with potential extensions to 1.30am based on demand and ATC availability.

The inbound flight was outside this window, leading to its diversion to Stansted.