Holiday makers returning home to the Isle of Man were shocked to find their flight diverted then grounded by suspected terrorists.

Karen Lancaster, with husband Paul and daughter, Hannah, were flying to London from Croatia when their plane landed in Cologne, Germany.

Passengers made an emergency evacuation, leaving luggage behind and using chutes to get out as several people on board the flight were arrested and searched by police.

National news bulletins reported 151 passengers were evacuated from the plane at Cologne-Bonn airport in Germany on Saturday and three people arrested after their conversation sparked suspicion from fellow passengers.

Mrs Lancaster, who works for Isle of Man Newspapers, said they realised something was amiss when the plane appeared to be descending long before reaching London and around 10 minutes later an announcement was made.

’The captain just said they had been instructed to land at Cologne for "security reasons". I wasn’t worried at that point because I assumed the problem was at London where we were heading,’ she said.

But the family was more concerned when the plane taxied away from the main terminal, coming to rest at the remote end of the airport, surrounded by police and fire crews.

’My stomach had started churning a bit at this point. We were sitting near the wing so our view was restricted but we could see armed police on the ground,’ she said.

After about half an hour police - one armed with a machine gun - boarded the plane and walked down the aisle.

’They stopped two seats behind us and asked one chap to gather his things together and leave the plane,’ she said.

In total four people were taken off the plane and passengers could see them being searched.

Once the plane was evacuated, the passengers were searched then, after an hour waiting on the grass verge, taken to the airport terminal to wait.

’There was a bit of a rush for the toilets at this stage,’ she said.

Food and water were provided and statements were taken from every passenger. Their bags reappeared around 3.45am and they finally got to an hotel at 4.45am. Their rescheduled return flight was at 1pm.

’We finally arrived home in Onchan at 11am on Monday after setting out from our hotel in Croatia at 7am on Saturday,’ Mrs Lancaster said.