Our TUI holiday turned sour after they pulled plug on flight as we boarded the plane

RAGING passengers told how their TUI flight was cancelled as they were boarding the plane.

After a delay of about an hour they thought they were finally heading home from Turkey in the early hours of the morning.

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It’s understood some of them had actually set foot on the aircraft when they were told to make a U-turn and head back to the terminal building.

Sean Gray, 40, revealed he got bussed to a hotel and finally made it to bed at about 5.30am – more than three and a half hours after his flight was supposed to take off.

The dad-of-two said: “I would never deal with TUI ever, ever again.

“I’ve got nothing against the staff, they’re just doing their jobs. But TUI couldn’t care less if problems arise.

“We had a flight cancelled last summer and lost a day at the start of our holiday. We got a £600 voucher and that was the only reason we booked. My wife had to talk me into it.”

Sean, his wife and their kids, aged nine and eleven, spent a week at the Holiday Village resort in Sargrieme.

They had a fantastic time but he reckons that’s been soured by the problems trying to fly back to Aberdeen.

They first they heard about any issues was when they were in the queue to drop off their luggage at Dalaman Airport.

The 1.55am TUI flight was then delayed to about 2.40am when passengers were told they could start boarding.

Sean said: “We were a couple of groups back. The first few passengers were allowed on. Then we were stopped.

“ A young lad in a high vis vest came racing through us when we were attempting to board.

“After about twenty minutes I spotted bags being unloaded from the plane, then we were told the flight was cancelled.

“We were told to go back to passport control, then back to our gate then to pick up our luggage. It took an age to appear.”

TUI revealed a flight hold-up meant staff weren’t allowed to work any longer.

Sean said he was given conflicting reasons in the airport about why the plug was pulled on the flight.

He also hit out at the hotel he was put up in after the cancellation.

Sean added: “The room is boiling, like there is underfloor heating on full blast. I’ve barely slept.

“My bed is sodden with sweat and the air con is rubbish. 

“The breakfast in the hotel was totally inadequate for a family. My kids couldn’t pick anything. We walked down the road to restaurant instead.”

Sean and his family took off from the airport on Friday afternoon.

He added: “The Holiday Village was lovely. Staff were brilliant, food was good, as was the entertainment. 

“But I just know that I’ll only remember the problems with the flight when I’m talking about this holiday in future. That doesn’t seem fair on the hotel.”

A TUI spokeswoman said: “We’d like to apologise to customers on flight TOM541.

“They were delayed due to the late arrival of the inbound aircraft, which meant the crew had exceeded their legal working hours.

“Customers were provided with overnight accommodation and transfers were arranged to take them to the airport for their new flight time.

“We understand how frustrating it is when holiday plans are disrupted, and we’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding.

“All customers are entitled to claim EU261 flight delay compensation.”