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Date Published: 12/03/2025

Brits stranded in Spain as airport staff refuse to wait for diverted Ryanair flight

The flight from Malaga to Manchester was rerouted to Bilbao when a passenger onboard fell ill

A plane full of British holidaymakers was left stranded in a Spanish airport this week when air traffic controllers reportedly clocked off instead of waiting to sort out the delayed Ryanair flight.

The plane travelling from Malaga to Manchester requested an emergency landing in Bilbao when a passenger fell ill about an hour into the flight from the Costa del Sol. But even though medics met the plane on the tarmac, the other passengers realised that most airport staff had left 15 minutes earlier.

As a result, they were left high and dry and told to make their own arrangements for an overnight stay, as the flight to the UK wouldn’t be resuming until the following morning.

Stranded passenger Sara Diggle explained the situation: “They went home so we were unloaded, left high and dry to make our own arrangements for hotels.”

An airport spokesperson confirmed that passengers had to spend the night in Bilbao rather than travelling on to Manchester as the flight plan “exceeded operational hours” of the airport, which would also explain why all the staff had clocked off.

It left the next afternoon at 1.01pm.

A Ryanair spokesperson added: “This flight from Malaga to Manchester diverted to Bilbao after a passenger became ill onboard.

“The aircraft was met by medics upon arrival and this passenger was offloaded and transported to a nearby hospital. Passengers were notified of the diversion and advised of their options.

“Despite Ryanair's efforts to arrange accommodation for passengers, availability was limited, and passengers were advised that they could arrange individual accommodation that they could claim back receipted expenses on Ryanair.com.”

The incident is just the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Ryanair's operations in Spain. The budget carrier has been locked in a dispute with Spanish airport operator Aena over “excessive” fees, resulting in the cancellation of thousands of flights to and from the country.

In other news: TUI axes UK-Spain route amid wider summer 2025 flight cuts

Image: Ryanair

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