Flybe plane seized by Isle of Man government due to 'outstanding debts'

Flybe operated flights between the Isle of Man and Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham

An aircraft owned by collapsed airline Flybe has been impounded by the Manx government until the company's outstanding debts are paid, the Isle of Man's treasury minister has said.

Alfred Cannan said the airline owed the infrastructure department more than £300,000 in landing fees as well as air passenger duty (APD) from February.

Although that figure is not yet known, January's payment was £155,577.

Flybe's administrator EY said the matter would be "reviewed".

Mr Cannan told the Manx parliament: "A Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, which is the aircraft in question, has a replacement value of around £25m and a book value of £4m, so I hope that we should indeed get our money that is owed."

The island's customs and excise division was waiting for confirmation of the total amount of APD still due to the government, Mr Cannan said.

The last Flybe aircraft to land at Ronaldsway Airport touched down on the evening of 4 March, hours before the airline went bust.

A spokesman for EY said: "The team continue to work through the process of collecting information and planning the realisation of assets, while supporting employees.

"This particular situation will be reviewed and considered in due course."