Air traffic controllers were told they legally couldn’t work extra hours to allow an easyJet flight to land at Ronaldsway.

The flight, on Friday, December 21, was cancelled as passengers began to board after delays due to the drone activity that closed London’s Gatwick airport.

A statement from the Department of Infrastructure confirmed earlier reports that laws regarding working hours prevented the staff from being allowed to continue working, despite some offering to ensure the flight was able to land.

Nick Black, DoI chief executive, said: ’EasyJet did contact the airport to ask how late it could stay open. The airport immediately offered to stay open to 2300 hours [11pm], the maximum limit of the air traffic controllers on duty.

’The problem for the airline was not the flight to the island.

’The problem was the return flight, which had to be arranged around Ronaldsway hours, flight crew time limits and a return landing slot.

’Despite the offer to open late, by 9pm, easyJet had determined not to operate the flight as there was a significant queue at the holding point at Gatwick on top of the already late departure slot from Gatwick for the Isle of Man service.

’Had the Gatwick flight taken off at 9pm, the return flight could have departed before 11pm.

’EasyJet does not have a base at Ronaldsway and does not base aircraft here. It needed to ensure that the aircraft could fly out again.

’The airport could not have stayed open longer. Our controllers came on shift at 1pm and would have run out of hours at 11pm. This is not a contractual restriction but one imposed by the rules for safe operation. While our staff swiftly offered to work late, they could not undertake air traffic control duties past 11pm.’

A number of passengers and their families contacted Isle of Man Newspapers including one man whose daughter was stuck at Gatwick until Christmas Eve and another whose wife had to travel 240 miles to Liverpool to get home in time for Christmas.

And a woman whose partner was stuck in Liverpool with his daughter said: ’It would be good to hear what the decision makers think about people being left over the weekend in the UK,

’Are they prepared covered the cost of accommodation and alternative travels arrangements?

’Not to mention the lost, precious family time over the Christmas period. No one will give us this weekend back.’