Image source, Blue Islands
- Author, Dan Wareing
- Role, BBC News
A cricket coach said his stranded squad had “no help” from their airline after their flight was cancelled at short notice.
The delay meant coach Lee Forshaw had to arrange emergency overnight accommodation for the under 11s and under 13s teams until they could get back to Guernsey on Monday.
Blue Islands apologised to customers and blamed “unforeseen technical difficulties” for the cancellation.
The BBC has contacted the airline for further comment.
Cancellation was ‘hard’
Mr Forshaw said they received no assistance from the airline after the flight desk gave them the next available flight.
“They told us [the flight was cancelled] and that was the last we heard from Blue Islands,” he said.
“They didn’t need to offer us any refreshments or accommodation, so we were basically told we had to look after ourselves.
“It was hard with 24 children and four other coaches, at almost 11 o’clock at night, to find accommodation and to get them there safely.”
‘Supply chain challenges’
When asked what his reaction was to hearing the flights had been cancelled, Mr Forshaw said: “My thinking turned to looking after the children, getting them fed, and finding them accommodation.
“We eventually got ourselves booked into a hotel and got the boys into their rooms by about midnight.
“I think we did well considering the circumstances, and that was with no help from Blue Islands.”
Blue Islands previously said technical issues had caused flight disruption and it apologised for any inconvenience.
“Together with the global aviation community, Blue Islands is experiencing supply chain challenges resulting in a shortage of aircraft component and parts,” the airline said.
“Further exacerbating these challenges, an aircraft sustained a lightning strike departing East Midlands last week, which is undergoing investigation and repair in order to return the aircraft to service.”