Hundreds of passengers faced huge delays after Zoom Airlines' schedule was thrown into chaos when one of its planes developed engine problems and had to divert to New York.

On Saturday Zoom's flight was due to arrive from New York at 9.15 p.m. at the L.F. Wade International Airport and take-off again shortly afterwards.

But the flight didn't get to Bermuda until 11 p.m. and didn't leave until 50 minutes later and then when it did take off to fly to the UK it was diverted to back New York due to engine problems.

Zoom uses the same aircraft and because the flight was so delayed from Bermuda it had a knock-on effect meaning the flight that was due to leave from Gatwick at 2.15 p.m. on Sunday was delayed by about 30 hours, arriving at just after 7 p.m. yesterday.

Passengers who returned to Bermuda last night said the company's Managing Director spoke to them at Gatwick Airport, in London, and told them they would be getting a £100 voucher to use when purchasing tickets on another Zoom flight.

Last night the airport General Manager, Aaron Adderley, said: "Essentially the flight was late departing JFK on Saturday night, about three hours late.

"It was late because it had mechanical problems. The flight finally did arrive in Bermuda and when it left Bermuda on its way to London, Gatwick, it was discovered there were still mechanical problems.

"The pilot decided to land in JFK instead of Bermuda because that's where they have maintenance."

He continued: "The events have had a trickle-down effect which affected yesterday and today's scheduled of operation. It's all the same aircraft."

Yesterday Michael Brown, a visitor from the UK, contacted The Royal Gazette after his son's flight was diverted to New York.

Mr. Brown said his son, Christopher, was flying back to London after coming to the Island to play in the Bermuda Open golf tournament and watch the PGA.

He said they had tried to get the flight information from Zoom's website but there was no indication that the plane was going to arrive late and passengers were only notified once they got to the airport.

Mr. Brown said his son got more frustrated when they arrived in New York at 4 a.m. on Sunday because only some of the passengers were put in hotels immediately and all the baggage was unloaded from the plane.

The rest of the passengers were put in hotels by early Sunday afternoon.

The flight finally left New York at 10 p.m. on Sunday and arrived in London 11 a.m. yesterday UK time. Mr. Brown said his son was "pretty annoyed" because all they've been offered so far as compensation is 170 pounds, which is not the full refund and would never fly Zoom again.

The Henley family from Guilford arrived in Bermuda after seven last night — more than a day after they were due to touch down — looking tired but happy to start their holiday. Andrew Henley said the whole ordeal had been miserable. "They did not go out of their way at all," he said. "The biggest problem was lack of information and complete confusion of it all. They put us in a hotel but then told us we would have to return to the airport this morning, but out flight didn't leave till the afternoon.

His wife Kris said: "It was our first flight on Zoom, and I don't know if we will use it again. It will take a long time before I book with them again."

She added the company's managing director arrived at the terminal earlier in the day and was met with a "near riot". He offered the passengers a £100 voucher, which she felt was a bit of an insult.

Zoom officials were not available for comment yesterday.