stranded

The village of Inverie in Scotland is thought to be the UK’s most remote village and it’s home to the most remote pub too a place that visitors never seem to tire of visiting

During the Covid lockdown, residents of Inverie faced greater challenges than most communities across Britain.

The small village of roughly 120 people depends entirely on its ferry service for everything from food and post to medicine and freight. When Western Isles Cruises cannot run the ferry to Inverie – which happens frequently due to poor weather conditions – nothing can enter or leave the settlement.

That’s because Inverie in Scotland has no road access whatsoever, only a gruelling two- to three-day trek over the mountains. The ferry service is therefore the villagers’ sole lifeline to essential supplies.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the usual 28 weekly sailings were slashed to just three – operating only on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

READ MORE: I’m a flight attendant – these are the dirt-cheap cult products I always buy when I’m abroadREAD MORE: ‘Most picturesque railway line in UK’ with waterfalls and castles finally reopens

“The pier has drop-off bins and a container plus many local residents would be keenly waiting the arrival of their supplies. In normal times they would create a human chain to help unload the boat up the steps and onto the pier but during Covid they couldn’t,” a blog on the ferry service’s website reads, reports the Express.

“So the skipper and crew unloaded the boat whilst the locals looked on at a distance. We didn’t need Joe Wicks as the workout was intense, especially at low tide! The crew were never so slim.”

The main village on the Knoydart Peninsula, Inverie sits on the northern shore of Loch Nevis. Whilst numerous villages in that region are isolated, Inverie is world-record-breakingly so.

It holds its own Guinness World Record for the Most Remote Village in the UK to prove it. It earned this distinction because there are no roads leading to it – you can only reach it by boat from Mallaig, or by tackling an arduous 16-mile trek through extremely isolated countryside.

Whilst getting there presents a challenge, the journey proves worthwhile for two compelling reasons: the stunning scenery and the local boozer.

The John Muir Trust, who own the land, are currently rewilding sections of Knoydart to restore its natural state.

“Centuries of burning and over-grazing by sheep and deer have damaged the habitat here. Over the last 30 years, we’ve planted native tree species and controlled deer numbers to improve biodiversity. Now we’re seeing the natural regeneration of birch, oak, hazel, rowan, Scots pine and other tree species,” the Trust’s website reads.

“As the trees have regenerated on Knoydart, native wildlife has returned. This includes pine marten, roe deer, bats and many types of woodland birds. There are also otters, foxes, water voles, buzzards and different types of eagle. Knoydart is also notable for a wide range of species in its wet heaths, grasslands and snow beds. We expect to see more biodiversity as the woodland continues to expand.”

Inverie village comprises little more than the renowned Old Forge – which bills itself as “the Remotest Pub in Mainland Britain”. “We are proud to be one of a few community-owned pubs in Scotland. Whisky, real ale, traditional music and amazing service are our passions,” the Forge claims online.

There are very few with a bad word to say about the pub, which stands as a welcoming beacon of warmth, open almost every day of the year, regardless of the weather.

“Heaven on earth. Had an amazing meal for my hubby’s 67th birthday recently. Such a friendly atmosphere and the food was excellent too – fish and chips for me, macaroni cheese for hubby. Freshly cooked and delicious! This visit was sublime in every way, the scenery wasn’t bad either,” one satisfied customer wrote on Tripadvisor.

Another added: “No visit to Inverie is complete without a visit to The Old Forge. What the community have done to the place since the buyout is outstanding, it is a credit to all who have worked so hard to revive this fantastic place to its former glory. Always a pleasure to visit and partake in wonderful food and drink, all served by a very enthusiastic group of folk. Hope to be back one day. Keep up the good work.”

The Knoydart Snug is operated by the pub and has a handful of beds available to those who get stranded in Inverie. With a lively pub and stunning scenery on your doorstep, you may find yourself hoping that the weather turns.

The simplest route to Inverie involves a scenic train ride to Mallaig, followed by a short ferry trip. The direct Glasgow to Mallaig train journey on the West Highland Line, run by ScotRail, is a treat in itself with stunning Scottish views.

The journey spans roughly 160 km and takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes, with multiple services operating each day.

A small coastal town in the north of the UK boasts a unique claim to fame – it’s home to the world’s shortest street. Now the street and town have been cut off by the collapse of Eastern Airways

Commercial flights to one of the most remote airports in the country have been halted, effectively stranding the aviation hub.

UK domestic carrier Eastern Airways has suspended operations and cancelled all of its flights, delivering a major blow to the charming Scottish seaside town of Wick, which relied heavily on the airline for connectivity.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority said customers of the airline, which operated regional routes from airports across the UK, are being urged not to travel to the airport, as flights will no longer be operating.

According to its website, destinations served by Eastern Airways included Aberdeen, Humberside, London Gatwick, Newquay, Teesside International and Wick. All of those airports continue to be served by other airlines—except Wick John O’Groats, which sits at the northernmost tip of mainland UK.

READ MORE: City ‘rivals Amsterdam’ with canals and nightlife and is ‘must visit’ in 2026READ MORE: Island 2 hours from UK that banned cars is one of ‘Europe’s most underrated’

The only other carrier listed on FlightRadar as serving Wick is Gama Aviation, a specialist business aviation company. Wick Airport declined to tell the Mirror whether any other airlines were currently operating there.

That likely means the remote airport—and the town beside it—are effectively cut off by air, a significant setback given the 15-hour train journey required to reach London from Wick, and the eight-hour trip to Glasgow.

It’s also a loss for visitors to the small town, a charming coastal spot brimming with dramatic scenery and maritime heritage.

Nestled in Caithness, Wick is an ancient Viking stronghold. Once Europe’s busiest herring harbour, this diminutive coastal community now attracts visitors from around the globe for its striking fortress ruins, rugged coastline, and abundant wildlife.

“Around three miles north of Wick, the dramatic 15th- to 17th-century ruins of Sinclair and Girnigoe castles rise steeply from a needle-thin promontory,” proclaims VisitScotland, the region’s official tourism organisation.

“There’s a scenic clifftop walk to the castle via Noss Head Lighthouse from the tiny fishing village of Staxigoe. Along the way, visitors can spot a wide variety of seabirds and puffins before reaching a beautiful beach at Sinclair Bay, popular for windsurfing and sand-yachting.”

Holidaymakers seeking something truly unique often visit Ebenezer Place, officially recognised as the world’s shortest street.

Measuring just 6ft 9in long (2.06m), the road is so small it holds only one address—Mackay’s Hotel’s No. 1 Bistro.

Beautifully located beside the Wick River, the restaurant serves dishes made with local produce, along with afternoon tea, cocktail masterclasses, and, naturally, whisky. In 2006, the street—maintained by Highland Council as the road authority—earned a Guinness World Record as the shortest street in the world.

“When Alexander Sinclair returned from America in 1883 after making his fortune, he built Mackay’s Hotel on the corner of Union Street and River Street,” the hotel’s website explains. “The council instructed him to name the short end of the building, as they considered it a separate street. Ebenezer Place subsequently appeared in town records from 1887.”

In an online statement, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), which owns Wick John O’Groats Airport, said: “HIAL was made aware via press coverage that Eastern Airways has filed for administration. We will work closely with The Highland Council, which manages the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route from Wick, previously operated by Eastern Airways. Wick John O’Groats Airport will continue to operate as normal, and passengers should contact the airline for information regarding booked flights.”

Eastern Airways customers are being urged to make alternative travel arrangements via other airlines, rail, or coach operators. On Monday morning, Eastern Airways (UK) Ltd filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator at the Insolvency and Companies Court, part of the High Court.

Selina Chadha, consumer and markets director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport, as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled. Eastern Airways customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for the latest information.”

Rescued trekkers reach China’s Qudang township while 200 others still face treacherous Everest conditions awaiting help.

Rescuers have guided more than 350 people to safety after they were stranded by blizzard-like conditions on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest, Chinese state media reported on Sunday.

In total, more than 500 people were caught by surprise when unusually heavy snow and rainfall lashed them on the way in the Tingri region of Tibet, one of the main routes to ascend the world’s tallest mountain.

Those rescued on Sunday were taken to the small township of Qudang, on the Tibetan side of the peak, CCTV reported.

Some 200 trekkers who remained stranded in treacherous conditions as of Sunday were due to arrive in Qudang in stages under the guidance and assistance of rescuers organised by the local government, CCTV reported.

The CCTV report did not indicate whether local guides and support staff accompanying the trekking parties had been accounted for. It was also unclear if trekkers near the north face of Everest, also in Tibet, had been affected or not.

Heavy snowfall in the valley, which lies at an elevation averaging 4,200 metres (13,800 feet), began on Friday evening and persisted throughout Saturday.

Ticket sales and entry to the entire Everest Scenic Area were suspended from late Saturday, according to notices on the official WeChat accounts of the local Tingri County Tourism Company.

“It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk,” said Chen Geshuang, who was part of an 18-strong trekking team that made it to Qudang.

“The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly,” Chen told the Reuters news agency.

In neighbouring Nepal, Sherpa communities have been adapting to increasingly unpredictable conditions as climate change contributes to more frequent and dramatic climate shifts in the Himalayas, posing risks to climbers and the Sherpa communities who work there.

In a situation update shared on Sunday, Nepal’s Tourism Board said that search and rescue operations were ongoing after the weather “improved significantly” across Nepal, with “clear skies in Kathmandu and many other parts of Nepal”.

The update came after heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods across Nepal, killing at least 47 people since Friday.

Thirty-five people died in separate landslides in the eastern Ilam district bordering India. Nine people were reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters, and three others were killed in lightning strikes elsewhere in the country.

The floods and landslides in the mountainous regions come as South Asian countries continue to battle ongoing floods, including in Pakistan, where some four million people have been affected.

DAVINA McCall’s dating show has proven life-changing for one bride after it unlocked a hidden disorder. 

Gorgeous Millie Thompson, 30, has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD after taking part on Stranded on Honeymoon Island having realised her OCD was so intense she considered smuggling in a pair of socks. 

4

4

4

One of the DJ and model’s quirks was she cannot bear to be barefoot, so she thought about sewing a secret set into her wedding dress. 

The BBC show sees singles marooned on a deserted beach in only their wedding attire. 

Millie told The Sun: “Coming back from the show, I ended up getting tested for ADHD and autism and I found out I have both. 

“I have learnt so much about myself, someone described it as being ‘neuro spicy’ and I love that for me.

“It’s lifechanging really.

“I always knew things like I couldn’t be without a pair of socks, I always have to be wearing a pair, but being on the show made everything clear. 

“This sounds crazy but I was contemplating sewing some socks into the boob bit of my wedding dress, I was like ‘can I smuggle in some socks?!’ but then I was like, no they’ll be disgusting. 

“Now I know that’s why I am how I am. 

“I’ve changed so much from it but in such a good, positive way and everyone has noticed.”

Millie was so conscious of being without her comforts, she had her wedding dress custom made with the experience in mind. 

She included a bodysuit she could wear like a onesie, and a skirt she could detach and use as a mosquito net. 

Millie, from Cheshire, added: “I am such a girly girl, I was combing my hair extensions with a fork. 

“But the experience makes you strip everything back and I thought I’d struggle because I’m so OCD but I actually coped really well.”

Viewers saw her struggle with the show’s dramatic jump into the sea that kicks off their stranded experience. 

“With Love Island there’s other couples and you can escape, but there’s nothing like Stranded for this, you’ve just got each other.”

Millie Thompson

After meeting at the altar, the couples then take a boat out to their deserted beach and then plummet into the sea ahead of a swim to land. 

But poor Millie can’t swim and she had to fit a life vest over her gorgeous wedding dress. 

She said: “That was a massive thing for me because I literally will not get in the water, I can put my feet in but that’s it, so to have to do that was massive.”

But she reckons being out of her comfort zone kickstarted a connection with her groom Jordan in a way that could never happen on Love Island.

While she can’t give away what happens on her journey, Milile added: “You are on a beach with absolutely nothing, you are relying on each other for everything.

“With Love Island there’s other couples and you can escape, but there’s nothing like Stranded for this, you’ve just got each other.”

Stranded on Honeymoon Island continues on BBC One tonight at 9pm, then returns next week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

4

The first episodes are already available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Stranded On Honeymoon Island returned to our screens tonight and BBC viewers were totally perplexed by one couple.

Stranded On Honeymoon Island were left scratching their heads as they questioned if they had “missed something” after one couple appeared to already be on the rocks.

The new BBC series, fronted by Davina McCall, follows a group of single people who end up speed dating and, after just five minutes, have to pick their favourite person.

Shortly after, the singletons are paired up by a matchmaker, marry one another and then are left stranded on an island and have to live with the basics.

Last night, the show kicked off with a speed dating event where the singles, following five minutes of chat, are asked to select their favourites. The final couplings are then settled on by professional matchmakers. Viewers saw Sam, 30, married Hannah, 29, Helen, 35, married Abby, 32, while Moray, 28, married Mae, 30.

Now that the first three couples have wed, during tonight’s episode it’s the turn of the remaining pairs to get hitched.

However it was newlyweds Helen and Abby who had everyone talking as they are already showing cracks in their marriage.

Waking up together for the first time on the Island it was clear that Abby is already struggling with her new life on the deserted island.

While making breakfast, Helen went on to say: “Yesterday was, like, such a little dream bubble. And then overnight, and today, it’s like OK, this is reality.”

The new bride admitted: “Abby is struggling with this and I think it’s getting her a bit grouchy, it’s getting her a bit moany but it’s day one. So I don’t know; I don’t know if she’s going to stick this out.”

Turning to her new wife, Helen asked: “Do you think that you would struggle, like in this experience? Did you think that… Because last night was a lot.”

Opening up, Abby admitted: “Yes, it’s hard. I think for me I’m missing my family and I’m missing my friends. I’m definitely learning more things about myself even just from last night’s experience.”

Helen jumped in: “I feel like that is you, right? So it did kind of shock me this morning when you were like, ‘Oh I don’t know, like if I can do this.’

“You’re making me feel like… like can you?”

Abby explained: “No, I do feel like I can. I think I just needed a minute.”

The tension was palpable as a frosty Helen replied: “Sure. But it’s day one so, let’s see.”

Attempted to shift the mood, Abby confirmed: “Yeah, it is day one. You’ve been great, it’s nothing on you. It’s just me.. You know.. adjusting.”

Helen said: “I want to be there for you and I will be.” Abby added: Yeah, I know. I appreciate that.”

It didn’t take long for fans to rush straight to social media to share their reaction as they questioned how their relationship had shifted in just one day.

One fan wrote on X, formally known as Twitter: “#StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland What went on last night then between the two women? Did we miss something? Sure they were happy on last night’s ep.”

Another commented: “She’s only been there a f****** day!” A third said: “She’s only been there a b****** day #StrandedOnHoneymoonIsland.”

Stranded on Honeymoon Island airs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night at 9pm on BBC One and on the BBC iPlayer

In Punjab province, all three major rivers overflowed simultaneously, for the first time in the country’s history.

Nearly half a million people have been displaced by flooding in eastern Pakistan after days of heavy rain swelled rivers, according to rescue officials, who have been carrying out a huge rescue operation as the country struggles with a monsoon season of devastation.

According to a statement released Saturday by the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 835 people have died in the monsoon since June 26, with 195 in Punjab province alone.

Three transboundary rivers that cut through Punjab, which borders India, have swollen to exceptionally high levels, affecting more than 2,300 villages.

The regional Punjab government has initiated controlled breaches of key flood bunds to divert surging waters from the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers. All three major rivers overflowed simultaneously, for the first time in the country’s history, according to local media.

Nabeel Javed, the head of the Punjab government’s relief services, said on Saturday that 481,000 people stranded by the floods have been evacuated, along with 405,000 livestock.

Overall, more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the flooding.

“This is the biggest rescue operation in Punjab’s history,” Irfan Ali Khan, the head of the province’s disaster management agency, said at a news conference.

He said more than 800 boats and 1,300 rescue personnel were involved in evacuating families from affected regions, mostly in rural areas near the banks of the three rivers.

‘No human life left unattended’

The latest spell of monsoon flooding since the start of the week has killed 30 people, Khan said, with several hundred left dead throughout the heavier-than-usual season that began in June.

“No human life is being left unattended. All kinds of rescue efforts are continuing,” Khan said.

More than 500 relief camps have been set up to provide shelter to families and their livestock.

Farmer Safdar Munir in the city of Kasur said the floods took away his crops and all his belongings.

“So, we are pulling out our cattle as there is no fodder to feed our livestock. We have received no help from the government,” he told Al Jazeera.

Abid, another farmer, said: “The water came and destroyed everything. It is with great difficulty that I could save my livestock. My farm and crops are all underwater.”

In the impoverished town of Shahdara, on the outskirts of the provincial capital of Lahore, dozens of families were gathered in a school after fleeing the rising water in their homes.

Rains continued throughout Saturday, including in Lahore, the country’s second-largest city, where an entire housing development was half submerged by water.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast new rounds of widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms across multiple regions.

In mid-August, more than 400 Pakistanis were killed in a matter of days by landslides caused by torrential rains on the other side of the country, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, close to Afghanistan and the only province held by the opposition to the federal authorities.

In 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods submerged a third of Pakistan, with the southern province of Sindh the worst-affected area.

Footage shows cars parked in the Cornish seaside town of Polzeath as the tide rises around their tyres, with visitors rushing to rescue their vehicles before they are submerged.

Holidaymakers visiting the Cornish seaside town of Polzeath were left stunned to discover their cars slowly disappearing beneath the waves over the bank holiday weekend.

Video footage captures vehicles parked in the town on Cornwall’s north coast as the tide creeps up around their wheels, with panicked visitors scrambling to save their cars before they vanished underwater.

Dramatic scenes showing a 2010 Subaru Outback in danger were filmed by 34-year-old Sam Peters, who witnessed the mayhem as good Samaritans rallied to help the motorist retrieve their vehicle.

He said: “Everyone was panicking and it caused much distress. Many onlookers were surprised and concerned, and some tried to help.

“Several cars got caught in the rising tide and became stuck on the beach. The car finally got pushed out by many supporters on the beach.”

This marks yet another occasion that tourists and residents have witnessed cars stranded by the waves at Polzeath, reports Cornwall Live.

Further footage, filmed in May, revealed a Mini falling foul of the tide on the same stretch of sand. The clip, recorded by the Polzeath Beach Ranger Service, depicted the vehicle parked and encircled by water.

In a Facebook post, they cautioned drivers about the perils of parking on sand. They said: “If you drive over seaweed to get to your parking space, consider how the seaweed might have been delivered.”

Despite the cheeky comment, the service confirmed that the owner managed to rescue their car before it was carried off during one of the May bank holidays.

A spokesperson for the service, speaking to Cornwall Live, offered some advice to drivers on how to avoid a similar situation.

They explained: “On this occasion, the tide was at its highest that day, but we do sometimes have higher spring tides. Many factors affect the height of the tide, including sun and moon phases, wind, waves and atmospheric pressure.

“It’s a beach car park – one of the last in the region – and it serves as a valuable resource for tourism and the community. It also helps to raise money to pay for necessary services like lifeguards, beach cleaning, road sweeping, bin emptying and toilets.

“As with all coastal destinations, there are risks associated with tides, weather and the landscape, and we encourage visitors to be aware of that. There are visible warning signs.”

SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 25 (UPI) — After spending nearly two months unable to leave Antarctica with his aircraft, American pilot and influencer Ethan Guo, 19, is set to return to Punta Arenas aboard an icebreaker in early September.

Chilean authorities said Guo altered his flight plan and landed without authorization on the continent June 1, and they forced his small aircraft to remain at the Chilean air base in Antarctica at which he set down.

Officials said Guo was not barred from leaving, but he chose to stay at the base until the dispute was resolved. Prosecutors argued that the 19-year-old American influencer broke “multiple national and international regulations” by changing his flight plans without prior notice and landing in a sector of Antarctica claimed by Chile.

“Ethan Guo will board the icebreaker Almirante Viel in early September, which will allow him to return to Punta Arenas. I want to thank the Chilean Navy for helping resolve this humanitarian problem, because he had no way to leave Antarctica other than flying his own aircraft, which was not authorized,” his lawyer, Jaime Barrientos, told UPI.

Since 2024, Guo has led the campaign “Flight Against Cancer,” aiming to become the first pilot to fly solo across all seven continents in a Cessna 182Q, while raising $1 million for childhood cancer research after his cousin was diagnosed with the disease.

On June 28, Guo took off from Punta Arenas, bound for Ushuaia, Argentina, but changed course due to weather and landed instead at Teniente Marsh Air Base on King George Island, about 745 miles away.

Chilean officials said he filed a flight plan to depart from Punta Arenas, which he later failed to follow. By changing course without notice, an emergency protocol was triggered. The country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation accused him of violating aviation rules and jeopardizing air safety.

Barrientos countered that Guo had received clearance to modify his plan.

“There is irrefutable evidence that he established communication with the DGAC, made the change and was expressly authorized to land at Teniente Marsh,” he said.

Speaking with Chilean newspaper Las Últimas Noticias, Guo said he never lied about his route.

“What happened on June 28 was deeply unfair. I didn’t understand the language they spoke to me in, and I was not allowed to present evidence to defend my case,” he said.

Living at the Chilean base, Guo described the experience as stressful and isolating.

“I spend 90% of my time in my room, and there isn’t much to do. Not everyone here speaks English, but they’ve treated me kindly. Despite the unfair legal process I’ve faced, I have a very good impression of Chile and its people.”

The case was closed through an out-of-court settlement. Regional prosecutor Cristián Crisosto said Guo agreed to donate $30,000 to charity and is barred from returning to Chile for three years.

As for the aircraft, Barrientos said the DGAC reached a deal allowing an authorized pilot to fly it back to Punta Arenas and then to the United States.

“We are complying with DGAC requirements so the plane can be returned as soon as possible,” he said.

Guo’s lawyer emphasized the young pilot’s experience: “He has landed in 50 countries, including war zones, crossed the Atlantic twice and flown more than 10 hours over the ocean. He was fully qualified to make the return flight, but we accepted the alternatives provided by the DGAC.”

For now, Guo said he only wants to move on.

“I haven’t seen my family or friends in months, so I hope to reunite with them soon. I just want to close this chapter of my life.”

The plane to London Gatwick from Cancun was diverted almost five hours into the flight

Passengers were left stranded at an airport for over 17 hours a flight was diverted due to a couple apparently smoking onboard. Brit Terry Lawrance, 66, said it was like a “war zone” with passengers camped out on rows of airbeds, after his flight home from Cancun, Mexico, on was grounded.

About an hour after take-off on July 8, the captain of the London Gatwick-bound TUI flight announced two passengers had been smoking in the toilets, and that if it continued, he would have to divert. After another three-and-a-half hours, the captain announced the plane would now be diverting to Bangor International Airport, Maine, US.

They landed at 21.30 local time – and the two alleged smokers were turfed off the flight. But Terry said the other passengers sat in their seats for another five hours and even taxied to take-off, before the flight was abandoned as the original crew were not able to continue to operate the rest of the flight back to Gatwick due to legal working hours.

Consequently, a relief flight was readied immediately, and a new crew were dispatched from the UK to the US to fly everyone back. The passengers were then kept in a room – which Terry claims is part of the military airbase section of the airport – for over 15 hours while the airline works to sort a relief crew.

A flight to take passengers home to Gatwick eventually took off at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST) on Wednesday, July 9 – with all passengers now safely home. Videos taken by Terry show rows of beds as passengers awaited updates, whilst another video shows vehicles approaching the plane after touching down in Bangor.

Terry said: “We were there for over 12 hours – it all went pear shaped. Everybody was fed up. In fairness, they started bringing out airbeds, but it was like free-for-all for vultures.

“It was like a warzone in a lounge – rows and rows of beds. All our luggage was still on the plane whilst we waited. TUI told us a relief crew was being sent from the UK because the current crew had used up their hours.”

Tracking on Flightradar24 shows the plane turning back towards Maine, shortly after entering Canadian airspace. Terry said: “After an hour the captain came on and said someone had been smoking in the toilet – he read the riot act and said if it continues, we’d have to divert.

“About three hours later, around the border with Canada and he came on to let us know that the plane was being diverted to Bangor, Maine. Once we landed, they removed the two passengers.

“They were obviously drunk. The captain then said we’d be getting going again once the paperwork has been done. We were sat on the plane on the ground for five hours – the plane started taxing again and we thought ‘great’ and then they said there was a problem with flight plan, and we have to get off.

“Next thing, we’re not going anywhere, and we’ve got to stay in this small lounge. We waited six or seven hours before we were offered a drink.”

TUI declined to comment.

July 6 (UPI) — Mechanical issues on a Eurostar train forced a nine hour delay and prompted passengers to evacuate after they were stuck on board for more than nine hours with no working toilets and without air conditioning on what was supposed to be a two journey.

Rescue teams arrived with water and helped passengers off the train, which was stopped on the tracks outside of Calais. They were transported to London in a different train. Eurostar blamed a power failure on the train for the breakdown, the BBC reported.

Eurostar apologized and offered the stranded passengers a full refund

The train departed Brussels just before 9 a.m. local time and was scheduled to arrive in London just before 10 a.m. but lost power between Lille and Calais, leaving the train and its passengers stranded.

The English folk band Stornoway was on the train and its members performed an impromptu concert when passengers were allowed to disembark. They had been required to stay on board due to safety concerns caused by people standing near the rails.

EUROSTAR passengers were stuck for up to seven hours yesterday after two people were hit by trains.

The operator warned that delays and disruptions will continue into this morning.

2

Trains in both directions between London St Pancras International and Gare Du Nord in Paris were either cancelled or delayed for hours.

It followed two separate fatalities, the first between Lille and Paris and around 5pm.

The second person was hit between Lille and Arras, according to local media.

Eurostar posted on X this morning to say trains will be running, but there area a “few cancellations” and “a lot of passengers travelling”.

“So the situation might still be difficult.”

Yesterday, there were massive queues at both the UK and French railway stations.

Many furious passengers who were stuck for hours took to social media to demand compensation.

One train, due to leave London at 2.31pm, was supposed to arrive at 5.57pm.

But it was delayed for four hours and didn’t get in until nearly 10pm.

Another frustrated passenger said they were on a train from London to Paris but they were stuck on it for seven hours.

Naomi Sanger, from Snodland, told KentOnline she boarded the 4.31pm at Gare Du Nord but it never left and she was left stranded at the station.

She posted on X that the food and drinks supply was running out, and the air con was not working.

In a statement on X, Eurostar said: “Due to a person struck by a train near Lille Europe, we are expecting delays and cancellations to our services this evening.

“We advise changing your journey for a different travel date.”

On Wednesday, Eurostar travellers were also hit by delays after a person was hit on the rails in France.

2