Passengers flying from Italy to the UK took a detour to northern Africa because the airline had to deliver a part for another plane

• A TUI plane was meant to fly from the south of Italy to the United Kingdom.
• But an unscheduled diversion meant it took a detour and stopped off in northern Africa.
• Passengers had to wait on the runway in Tunisia while the airline delivered a part for another plane.

TUI passengers on board a flight from Italy to the UK found themselves unexpectedly diverted to northern Africa, where they remained on a runway for an hour while the airline delivered a plane part.

The Independent was the first to report on the incident, in which passengers on Flight BY4651 from Lamezia Terme in southern Italy to London Gatwick Airport took an unusual detour.