TUI took passengers returning from southern Italy on a detour to north Africa, adding four hours to their journey home.

The departure of Flight BY4651 from Lamezia Terme airport on Saturday was delayed an hour, then passengers were told they would be flying first to Tunisia.

TUI said the Boeing 737, carrying 189 passengers, needed to make a ‘short stop’ at Enfidh-Hammamet airport to drop off equipment required for another 737 aircraft.

A spokesperson said Flight TOM529 from Tunisia to Manchester had suffered a technical fault prior to its departure from and needed engineering support.

After an hour on the ground in Tunisia, the Flight BY4651 from Italy took off again for Gatwick, arriving in London four hours late.

TUI said in a statement: “We’d like to apologise again for any inconvenience caused and thank customers for their patience and understanding.

“All customers were given a complimentary drink on board as a gesture of goodwill and all will be entitled to claim EU261 flight delay compensation.”