Passengers of an Austrian airline were forced to pay $30,000 for the refueling of their flight in Vienna to get to their final destination in the U.K.

The 180 passengers of the Comtel Air flight from Amritsar, India to Birmingham claimed they pooled their money during the Boeing 757's refueling stop in Vienna, where the airline is based, and arrived in Birmingham Tuesday. But they were scheduled for arrival in Birmingham Nov. 12.

Spanish carrier Mint Lineas Aereas, which Comtel contracted in October to operate a service between Birmingham and Amritsar, apparently grounded the plane because Comtel have unpaid bills. Comtel, in turn, blamed English travel agents who owe them money for the trouble.

Konrad Bhupinder, managing director of Comtel Air, specifically referred to tour agent, Skyjet, according to AAP.
The passengers initially refused to pay the $236 additional cost demanded from them by Comtel staff and held a sit-in for six hours. The passengers, who had already paid $788 for their tickets, eventually withdrew cash or issued IOUs to pay for the refueling.

The trouble did not end there as about 600 more passengers who had booked flights with the airline were left stranded in Amritsar and could not get home to Birmingham because Comtel cancelled the flights Thursday, the Press Trust of India reported.

Angry relatives of the stranded passengers trooped to the travel agency, the Takhar Travel in Smethwick in the West Midlands, to demand an explanation on Wednesday.

British MP Keith Vaz called on the British government to intervene.

"It is outrageous that consumers who in good faith purchase tickets are left stranded for days and then asked to pay additional money these actions can only be said to amount to air piracy. I have asked the Transport Minister to intervene immediately to help these British citizens," Vaz said in a statement, according to PTI.

The U.K. Foreign Office advised affected passengers to consult their travel agents so they can book in other flights.

A Comtel plane in Vienna.