Covid red tape led to the postponement of a repatriation flight.

Some 69 passengers returning home to Guernsey following the suspension of the air bridge boarded the Aurigny Embraer jet at Ronaldsway on Saturday.

This was due to take off at 6pm but after about an hour the passengers were asked to disembark and return to the terminal.

Bad weather in Guernsey was blamed for the decision to postpone the flight until the next morning.

Among the passengers was Keith Pleasant, who said: ’On-board the captain told us landing in Guernsey might be impossible but he had just been informed that if the plane flew more than 12 nautical miles from the Isle of Man it would not be allowed to return.

’A diversion to Southampton or Gatwick with an overnight stay would mean everyone self-isolating upon eventual arrival in Guernsey. It seemed to us impossible anyone could think we would present an increased risk to the island if we returned within hours.’

The Manx Independent has learned that decision was based not on safety grounds but on emergency Covid legislation.

If the aircraft had taken off but then been diverted back to Ronalsdway, the passengers would have technically been breaking the law when they landed back here.

This is because Covid restrictions on entering the island would apply as the Guernsey air bridge had been suspended.

While the aircraft crew would have key worker exemptions, the passengers would not.

If the aircraft had been diverted back to Ronaldsway for safety reasons such as a technical issue or closure of other airports, it would have been allowed to land without a breach of Covid emergency restrictions.

Accommodation was found for the passengers overnight in local hotels.

They returned home to Guernsey on a flight that took off at 9.30am the next day.

Mr Pleasant said his view of the Isle of Man was now ’not quite so rosy’.

He said he had been refused entry onto a bus back to Douglas after the repatriation flight failed to take off. He said the driver’s parting words had been "You should have stayed in your island".

The Manx government announced the immediate suspension of the air bridge on Friday after a Covid cluster was identified in the Channel island.

To date, nine people have been confirmed with the virus there but public health officials are hopeful that the outbreak has been contained.

There were 110 Manx residents who flew to Guernsey on Wednesday and 104 who returned on the repatriation flight who are now having to self-isolate for 14 days.