Passengers were left stranded after a flight from Gatwick had to turn back because of fog at Ronaldsway.

Those on board the easyJet flight were put up in hotels overnight and but told that no seats were available on the airline’s flights to the island until Thursday.

Among the passengers was Karolina Davison, of Peel, who had flown from the Ukraine that morning with her two children, aged three and nine.

’We had left at 5am and this was our third flight. It reached the island and circled before flying back to Gatwick.

’I had two children with me and we had been travelling for 12 hours.’

Karolina and her children were put up at the Premier Inn at Gatwick Airport only to find out the next day that the next available flight wasn’t until today (Thursday).

She said: ’I appreciate it’s not easyJet’s fault that the flight was cancelled.

’But the next available flight was a three full days’ wait and they didn’t offer me any other options.’

But in the end, she wasn’t prepared to wait that long to fly home.

She arrived back in the island yesterday morning (Wednesday) after booking a British Airways flight from London City. It had cost the family an extra £700.

On its website, easyJet notes: ’Operating flights to and from Isle of Man can be challenging when certain weather conditions exist.

’The combination of the relatively short runway and low visibility can lead to being unable to make a safe approach to land the aircraft.’

An easyJet spokesman said: ’We can confirm that flight EZY855 from London Gatwick to the Isle of Man on August 21 returned to London Gatwick due to adverse weather conditions on the Isle of Man.

’The safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.

’As the weather did not improve a decision was made to cancel the flight. While the weather is outside of the airline’s control, easyJet apologises for the inconvenience caused.

’As there was limited availability on easyJet flights within the following 48 hours passengers were advised to switch to an alternative airline and are entitled to reimbursement.

’We also provided hotel accommodation for those who needed it.

’EasyJet would like to reassure passengers that it always does everything possible to minimise the impact of any disruption.’

Karolina, who is the wife of Peel Town Commissioners chairman Ian Davison, said she was glad to be home.

She said: ’It would have been worse if I had been visiting the island for the first time and didn’t know any of the options.’