More than 200 football fans have given up hope of reaching the Champions League final after their chartered flight to Moscow was cancelled.
More than 200 football fans have given up hope of reaching the Champions League final after their chartered flight to Moscow was cancelled.
The 224 Chelsea supporters were stranded at Gatwick airport for about six hours before finding out they would not reach the UEFA final at 1945 BST.
The 224 Chelsea supporters were stranded at Gatwick airport for about six hours before finding out they would not reach the UEFA final at 1945 BST.
About 30 police officers were called out after reports of disturbances but there was no serious trouble.
About 30 police officers were called out after reports of disturbances but there was no serious trouble.
An airport spokesman said there was a hydraulic fault with the plane.
An airport spokesman said there was a hydraulic fault with the plane.
Manchester United and Chelsea are competing to become the European champions in the competition's first all-England final.
Manchester United and Chelsea are competing to become the European champions in the competition's first all-England final.
We are choked about the way we have been treated Neil Turner, Chelsea fan
We are choked about the way we have been treated Neil Turner, Chelsea fan
The fans were told the 0555 BST flight had been delayed, but it was eventually cancelled at about 1300 BST.
The fans were told the 0555 BST flight had been delayed, but it was eventually cancelled at about 1300 BST.
Neil Turner, a "life-long fan" who was travelling to Moscow with his father-in-law and some friends, said he was "absolutely gutted" to have missed the final.
Neil Turner, a "life-long fan" who was travelling to Moscow with his father-in-law and some friends, said he was "absolutely gutted" to have missed the final.
"This is the pinnacle of our Chelsea years," he said. "We are choked about the way we have been treated."
"This is the pinnacle of our Chelsea years," he said. "We are choked about the way we have been treated."
He said the fans, who had paid about £1,000 each for the day trip, were told too late to make alternative plans to get to Moscow.
He said the fans, who had paid about £1,000 each for the day trip, were told too late to make alternative plans to get to Moscow.
'Totally devastated'
'Totally devastated'
"We've kind of exhausted every avenue. We're kind of at a bit of a loose end now, it's not going to be quite what we thought it was," he added.
"We've kind of exhausted every avenue. We're kind of at a bit of a loose end now, it's not going to be quite what we thought it was," he added.
"They've said to us that they will refund our flights, which is very kind of them, however, the way we've been treated has been appalling really."
"They've said to us that they will refund our flights, which is very kind of them, however, the way we've been treated has been appalling really."
Steven Webb, a 44-year-old fan from Croydon, said he wasted nine hours at the airport waiting for the plane booked through Flight Options, which organised several fights to Moscow for the match.
Steven Webb, a 44-year-old fan from Croydon, said he wasted nine hours at the airport waiting for the plane booked through Flight Options, which organised several fights to Moscow for the match.
"At one point we were on the bus travelling to board and were just driven around in a circle back to where we had come from," he said.
"At one point we were on the bus travelling to board and were just driven around in a circle back to where we had come from," he said.
"We've been totally devastated."
"We've been totally devastated."
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Were you due to be on the flight, or know someone who was? Send us your comments by filling out the form below or text us on 07725 100 100.
