A member of the public has called out the government for the “disgraceful” situation that occurred at Ronaldsway Airport on Sunday evening.
Last night (December 14), an easyJet flight from Liverpool landed on the island and 180 passengers were not allowed to disembark due to the wind.
Gary Shilling posted to Facebook expressing his frustration saying that this wasn’t due to the weather and was at no fault of the airline.
He says it was due to “the Isle of Man Airport and Government failed to provide the basic infrastructure needed to get people off a plane”.
People Stranded
Gary said: “The easyJet pilot did everything possible to get passengers off safely and reasonably. Every solution was blocked by the airport. The result? 180 people stranded, forced to find last minute accommodation, rebook travel, miss work, miss family commitments and deal with complete chaos.
“This is not a one off. The state of transport links on and off this island has been allowed to deteriorate for the last 5–10 years, and yesterday was another embarrassing example. Is it any wonder people are put off visiting the Isle of Man?
“The Isle of Man Government should be ashamed of the reputation they are creating. Transport is not a luxury — it is essential infrastructure. If you want people to live here, work here, and visit here, this simply isn’t good enough.”
Infrastructure Failure
Gary added: “This is not an airline issue. This is an infrastructure and governance failure.
“The Government’s slogan is “Freedom to Flourish” — is that meant to be a joke? Because right now, the reputation of the Island and the lived experience of visitors and residents alike tells a very different story.
“Passengers deserve answers — and more importantly, they deserve better.”
Strong Winds
In response to the situation, Isle of Man Airport apologised to passengers affected by disruption on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the DoI said: “Due to strong and gusting winds, aircraft steps could not be safely deployed on some flights in line with established safety limits operated by the airport’s ground handling provider, Menzies Aviation. These limits are in place to protect passengers while boarding and disembarking.
“The variable wind conditions meant that flights were affected differently. As a result, some services were cancelled or diverted, and in one case an aircraft landed safely but passengers were unable to disembark and the aircraft subsequently returned to its departure airport.”
Geoffrey Pugh, Interim Airport Director, said: “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to passengers as a result of Sunday’s high winds. These were unusual circumstances and safety must always come first. While these measures are necessary to protect everyone at the airport, we understand the disruption this caused and appreciate the patience shown by those affected.”
The airport continues to work closely with its service partners and operators to minimise disruption and ensure the highest standards of safety during adverse weather conditions.
