Manchester to Dublin flight detour due to Storm Isha was 'crazy'

An increasingly tired Mr Cassidy documented the 11-hour ordeal on TikTok

A passenger who was on a flight from Manchester to Dublin that had to divert to Paris due to Storm Isha has said it had been like riding a rodeo bull.

The Ryanair flight from Manchester to Dublin on Sunday was forced to change its destination after high winds made it unsafe to land in Ireland.

Declan Cassidy said when it eventually landed 450 miles away at Paris Beauvais Airport, "everyone started cheering".

"I was glad to be on the ground in one piece," the filmmaker added.

Mr Cassidy documented his long ordeal on TikTok, which began at 15:00 GMT on Sunday, and captured the pilot announcing the detour and the moment his fellow passengers applauded as their expected 35-minute flight eventually arrived in Dublin 11 hours after it set off.

Mr Cassidy filmed the moment the flight passed over Dublin Airport

He said they were originally told they would return to Manchester, before being diverted to East Midlands Airport, but when that was deemed unsafe, Paris became their new destination.

He said they were subsequently told if conditions were not good in Paris, they might have to land in Cologne in Germany.

He added it was "crazy" being on board in the storm.

"We took off and the pilot tried to land in Dublin, but he aborted several times," he said.

"It was crazy [and] like being on one of those bulls that throw you off."

Mr Cassidy said when the plane landed in Paris, "everyone started cheering"

He said the flight "tried to go back to Manchester, but they could not take any more planes".

"We were also told we could not go East Midlands Airport, but then ended up on the tarmac in Paris," he said.

"Everyone started cheering.

"I was glad to be on the ground in one piece.

"At least we are on the ground."

Ryanair has been contacted for comment.

Mr Cassidy's flight was one of a number that had to make huge diversions due to the weather.

Planes heading for Bristol and London also ended up in Paris, while several Edinburgh-bound planes landed in Cologne.

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