Civil Defence sets up emergency shelter as fog causes flight disruptions during TT fortnight
A foggy day at Ronaldsway Airport turned into an unexpected overnight stay for hundreds of visitors to the Isle of Man, forcing Civil Defence volunteers to set up camp beds and emergency accommodation at the terminal. With the island in the grip of TT fortnight — when accommodation is notoriously scarce — stranded passengers found themselves with limited options after weather caused significant flight disruptions.
When yesterday's fog grounded flights and left hundreds needing shelter, the challenge became acute. Visit Isle of Man and local authorities sprang into action, searching for available hotel rooms and alternative sailings while appealing to Manx residents via social media to open their homes to stranded visitors. Despite these efforts, many passengers had nowhere to go as the island's accommodation filled to capacity during the busy TT period.
Civil Defence Isle of Man stepped in to provide essential support, setting up camp beds and bedding at Ronaldsway for those left without options. Bus Vannin helped transport some affected passengers to Douglas, while the Castletown Civic Centre was opened as an initial reception point to manage the high number of stranded travellers.
Civil Defence has confirmed this was the only night of disruption so far and expressed hope that no further weather-related disruptions will occur during the TT fortnight. However, volunteers remain on standby and ready to assist if additional travel disruptions strike during this peak tourism season. A further update is expected at 9:30am.
Source: Read full article on ManxRadio