LONDON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- XL Airways planes were flown home empty after the air carrier became insolvent, leaving the British government to rescue its stranded passengers, pilots say.
The British Airline Pilots Association has demanded an inquiry into the affair, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.
The union maintains XL never even considered bringing its stranded passengers home. "Pilots thought this was ridiculous, the aircraft could have brought back around 4,000 people," the group's spokesman said.
Because XL had leased all of its aircraft, they reverted to the owners immediately after the low-cost airline became insolvent, the British newspaper said.
Also, the British Department for Transport reportedly refused to provide the financial guarantees that would have made it possible for passenger flights to take place.
