Dozens of people from Northern Ireland have been left stranded in Tunisia after their EasyJet flight home was cancelled, with the airline telling them it had no other flights available for another 10 days.
One man told News NI he has spent £4,000 on travel home for his family-of-five, while another woman, Georgina Doherty, said her and her six children were trying to get home after the death of her mother-in-law.
Others described running out of medication for health issues, while EasyJet were also criticised over a lack of support and communication.
EasyJet has said it is operating an additional direct flight to Belfast on Tuesday night, and that it was “very sorry” for the inconvenience.
The airline said it was “very sorry” for the inconvenience.
News NI understands more than 100 people were booked onto the cancelled flight that was due to leave Enfidha-Hamamet Airport for Belfast International three days ago.
Stuart McCartney, from Dromore, County Down, said he had spent thousands on accommodation and flights to get his family home via a flight to Brussels.
“I’m willing to pay £4,000 to get us home, if needs be, and then battle for reimbursement if I have to after that,” he said.
“But we shouldn’t have to pay. My holiday was a fraction of what I’m paying to get home right now.”
McCartney said EasyJet provided two nights of accommodation but then told the family to find alternative accommodation for the rest of the delay.
He said his mother Katherine, who accompanied his wife and children on the trip, relies on heart medication and they have had to keep a close eye on her remaining supply as the delay continued.
An EasyJet spokesperson said they were “very sorry” that the flight had been cancelled and that the company “have been doing everything we can to support Mr McCartney, providing hotel accommodation and meals and we will be reimbursing expenses that may have been incurred”.
Georgina Doherty, who is originally from Londonderry but now lives in County Donegal, told News NI the last few days have been an “absolute nightmare” for her family.
Her husband returned home a day before they were due to fly back due to his mother taking ill. She has since died, with Doherty and her six children stranded in Tunisia.