We were forced to spend hundreds on a taxi after our WizzAir flight landed at the wrong airport

The airfield at Cardiff was closed for an hour, so the flight remained at Bristol, awaiting the signal to head off for its proper destination.

But passengers were shocked several hours later after being informed that they would not be flying back to Wales.

They were forced to disembark at Bristol and then make their own way back to Cardiff, where many had left their cars.

The couple hoped to get some money back from the airline, but claim they have had their application dismissed.

Having waited in vain for alternative transport to be arranged, many families were then forced to pay hundreds of pounds on taxis to take them back to Wales.

And to make matters worse, one couple have claimed that their application to get compensation has been rejected by Wizz Air.

Ian Walters and his wife Kate say the airline told them that the closure of the airfield in Cardiff fell under “extraordinary circumstances” and therefore no money was due.

The couple had travelled on the flight with their young children and slammed the whole ordeal as "shambolic".

Ian said: “Obviously there’s nothing the airline could do about the circumstances in Cardiff.

"But following that, it was just a shambles. They weren’t allowed to serve us any food when we landed in Bristol, so we had a starving three-year-old and a six-year-old climbing all over us, screaming and crying. It was a nightmare.

“We were on the plane, on the tarmac, for around two and a half hours.

"But some guy then lost the plot and he walked off the plane, and it was after that they cancelled the flight and we all had to get off.”

The family then waited in vain alongside other passengers to see if any alternative transportation would be arranged to help them on their way home.

Ian continued: “We were told to stay put as Wizz Air reps were on their way, but no buses or reps turned up.”

The frustrated couple then decided to club together with another family to share a taxi back to Cardiff Airport.

And the 60-mile journey to the airport cost them a whopping £166.

In a response to their claim, Wizz Air said: “We confirm that flight W9 5814 CFU-BRS was delayed/ cancelled as a result of airport/ runway limitations.

“The referenced circumstances, as per the European Regulations 261/2004, fall into the category of extraordinary circumstances, therefore we regret to inform you that no compensation is due.”

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said that responsibility for arranging onward travel for any diverted flight in UK airports lies with the airline.

Wizz Air have been approached for comment.