TUI respond after 'smoking couple' on board flight turn it into a 'warzone' as Brits stranded for 17 hours

TUI has issued a response after its passengers were stranded in an airport in America for 17 hours over an incident involving two smokers on board.

Earlier this week, a pilot was forced to divert a plane heading to London after a couple were said to have been caught smoking in the bathroom of a TUI flight.

Flight BY49 took off from Cancún, Mexico, at 4pm local time and was due to arrive at Gatwick Airport on 8 July.

During the journey, however, the captain of the plane reportedly announced that two passengers had been smoking in the bathroom and that he would have to land at another airport if they didn't stop.

According to the Associated Press, the aircraft was diverted to Bangor International Airport in Maine, US, at 9:30pm local time. The two people accused of smoking on the flight were taken off the aircraft.

Passengers were stranded in an airport in America for over 17 hours (SWNS)

In a statement provided to People, TUI said the travellers became 'disruptive' on board and the plane was forced to divert due to safety reasons.

"This is now a case for the UK authorities, and we cannot comment any further on the disruptive nature of the passengers," a TUI spokesperson said.

Images shared by British passenger Terry Lawrance showed people having to sleep in the airport in the waiting areas.

TUI noted that due to US immigration laws, passengers were not able to leave the terminal and were instead forced to wait.

Eventually, the passengers were allowed to fly to Gatwick on 9 July after taking off at around 3pm local time from Maine.

Terry believes that the passengers were 'obviously drunk' (SWNS)

Terry claimed: "It was like a warzone in a lounge - rows and rows of beds.

"All our luggage was still on the plane whilst we waited.

"TUI told us a relief crew was being sent from the UK because the current crew had used up their hours."

The 66-year-old said that they were in the airport for over 12 hours, and everyone was getting seriously 'fed up'.

On the 'disruptive' passengers, Terry continued: "The captain then said we'd be getting going again once the paperwork has been done.

"We were sat on the plane on the ground for five hours - the plane started taxing again and we thought 'great'.

"And then they said there was a problem with the flight plan, and we have to get off."

"In fairness, they started bringing out airbeds, but it was like a free-for-all for vultures," he said, adding that they had to wait 'six or seven' hours before being offered a drink.