Five Britons bound for Gibraltar found themselves detained at Malaga airport and subsequently deported back to Britain after their aircraft was forced to land in Spain over the weekend.
The EasyJet flight, which departed London Gatwick on Sunday, encountered severe winds that prevented pilots from touching down on the Rock.
With landing conditions deemed unsafe, the aircraft diverted to the Costa del Sol airport instead.
Spanish border officials deemed the passengers should be detained upon the plane's arrival, despite possessing documentation permitting them to enter both Gibraltar.
However, they did not have valid Schengen visas, which meant they were not authorised to set foot in EU territory.
National Police officers at the airport chose to enforce border regulations strictly, declining to issue temporary permits that would have allowed the group to travel overland to the Rock.
While fellow passengers boarded coaches heading for La Linea, from where they could cross into Gibraltar, the five individuals without the particular visas remained held at the terminal.
Instead, they were placed on a return flight to London, per The Olive Press.
Five Britons have been deported from Spain after an EasyJet flight was diverted due to bad weather
|GB NEWS
This hardened approach appears to be a new tactic on the continent.
Historically, border police have permitted stranded passengers temporary entry on grounds of neighbourly goodwill, enabling them to reach their intended destination.
In January last year, officers granted exceptional entry to approximately 130 British Airways passengers whose flight had similarly diverted to Malaga during storms.
The flight included several Asian nationals lacking the required visas.
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The travellers were en route to Gibraltar
| GETTYAs for Gibraltar itself, the Rock's border is now policed by Spanish guards as part of an agreement signed last year by then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Travellers arriving by air to the British Overseas Territory will see "dual border control checks" by Spain's and Gibraltar's officials.
Meanwhile, Spanish officials will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Schengen Area, in a model similar to French police operating in London’s St Pancras station, the department said.
Gibraltarian sources had long vowed that there would be "no Spanish boots on the rock" - but one of Madrid's key demands was to have its officials in place on the peninsula.
British citizens travelling to Gibraltar must show their passports to Spanish or EU border guards under a deal signed last year
| GETTY"As the only UK overseas territory which shares a border with the EU, today's political agreement provides a practical solution for the unique situation faced by the people of Gibraltar whose livelihoods depend on a fluid border," the Foreign Office statement added.
David Lammy said following the deal's signing: "This Government inherited a situation from the last Government which put Gibraltar's economy and way of life under threat. Today's breakthrough delivers a practical solution after years of uncertainty.
"Alongside the Government of Gibraltar, we have a reached an agreement which protects British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar's economy and allows businesses to plan for the long-term once again.
"I thank the Chief Minister and his Government for their tireless dedication throughout the negotiations. The UK's commitment to Gibraltar remains as solid as the Rock itself."
Foreign Office sources had earlier told GB News that there were no plans to allow Gibraltar to join the EU's free movement scheme, amid fears that Labour would surrender the Rock's borders to Spain entirely.
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