An airline has been forced to pay thousands of pounds in compensation after Amsterdam passengers were left stranded at Dundee Airport.
Some had to pay hundreds of pounds for alternative flights in an effort to preserve holidays after the Flybe service was cancelled without explanation.
The airline has apologised, saying the decision was taken on safety grounds.
Passengers said they later heard their plane had “hit the runway a little harder than expected”, forcing it to be grounded for emergency checks.
Flybe said the aircraft had required “unscheduled maintenance” as a result of a “suspected technical fault”.
One passenger, who asked not to be named, said he and his brother were forced to return home to frantically search for an alternative flight to save their holiday.
The pair eventually paid more than £700 to fly from a different airport, though they and fellow passengers have since received compensation.
He said: “The previous flight landed on time but while we were due to depart at 12.15pm we were still waiting more than an hour later.
“It wasn’t until around 1.30pm that a baggage handler informed us we might as well go home as there were no more flights that day.
“There was no further explanation given, though as we left arrivals we were handed a glossy brochure on how to claim our money back.
“We had to take a taxi home and organise new flights from Edinburgh that evening – with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – at a total cost of £714.”
HIAL, which operates Dundee Airport, said its staff had “provided what help they could”, adding that other matters were an issue for Flybe.
A Flybe spokesman said: “Flybe again would like to sincerely apologise to those passengers who were inconvenienced when the above flight was cancelled due to the aircraft requiring unscheduled maintenance as a result of a suspected technical fault.
“The safety of its passengers and crew is our number one priority at all times and this will never be compromised in any way.
“Flybe fully complied with its duty of care to its passengers and is also complying with its obligations to pay compensation to those who have applied and supplied the relevant supporting documentation.”
The Amsterdam route has proved so popular that Dundee Airport announced last week that it is to start offering flights seven days a week due to overwhelming public demand.
The flights were introduced in May, with the route operating from Monday to Friday, with Flybe introducing Sunday flights just three weeks ago.
They have been so popular, without harming passenger numbers on weekdays, that a Saturday service will now be introduced from November.
