EasyJet passengers forced to sleep on floor after UK-bound flight makes emergency landing due to 'foul smell'

However, approximately two hours after take-off, whilst flying above Serbia, the pilot diverted to Sofia due to what travellers described as an "eggy smell" permeating the cabin.

The unexpected landing left numerous families returning from Turkish holidays stranded, with some resorting to resting on the terminal floor whilst awaiting alternative transport arrangements.

Passengers reported that the airline had promised to arrange accommodation, meals and water for those affected.

However, Vicky Walker, a 37-year-old traveller from Forfar in Angus, said she remained at the Bulgarian terminal throughout the night despite these assurances.

She said: "We were offered a hotel room, then be told we would need to check out of the hotel at 10am.

"We ended up in the airport with others. We haven’t been offered any water or food and have had no information given to us at all.

"Just a horrendous experience. Needless to say, I won’t be travelling with EasyJet again.

"I’m shattered and it just put a total dampener on my holiday."

Walker, who had detected a "foul smell" before the aircraft touched down, was among those left without proper facilities.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• EasyJet passenger, 83, thought he would 'pass out' as he had 'nowhere to sit down' during 20-hour flight delay
• EasyJet flight en route to tourist hotspot forced to turn back to Manchester after 'extraordinary circumstance'
• EasyJet flight diverted after stag do group were vaping and abusing cabin crew before being hauled off

Scott Duncan and his wife Emily Powell eventually received notification about hotel arrangements at approximately 5:30am, several hours after landing.

Duncan told STV News: "Check out times were between 10am to 11am, and needing to be at the airport for 3pm to pass security for a 5pm flight, we decided it was better to stay in the airport overnight.

"After sleeping on the floor for an hour after being refused seating from the Costa staff, eventually they opened the seating at 7am and allowed us chairs to sleep on.

"We have barely slept, are extremely dehydrated and provided very weak air conditioning in over 30C weather."

Powell added: “We can clearly understand that it is not the cabin crew or the pilot’s fault as they were making sure that we were safe."

The couple were amongst the fortunate few who secured rooms, whilst others continued waiting in the terminal building.

The diversion occurred because the flight crew had exhausted their permitted working hours for the day, necessitating a replacement aircraft from London Gatwick to collect the stranded passengers.

Flight EZY3282 was originally meant to arrive in Scotland at 12:45am on Wednesday morning.

Following the emergency landing in Sofia and subsequent delays, the service was rescheduled to reach Edinburgh at approximately 7pm on Wednesday evening.

This meant travellers faced delays of more than 18 hours from their original arrival time, with many spending the entire night at Sofia airport before the relief aircraft could transport them to their final destination.

The airline said: "Flight EZY3282 from Dalaman to Edinburgh yesterday diverted to Sofia as a precaution due to a technical issue.

"As engineers were unable to resolve the issue, the flight was delayed overnight and a replacement aircraft was arranged to continue the flight to Edinburgh this afternoon.

"The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority.

"We did all we could to minimise the impact of the diversion, securing hotel accommodation, meals and transfers for all customers and we also advised a small number of customers who arranged their own transport that they will be reimbursed.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience this will have caused."