CHILDREN flying from Southampton Airport to Guernsey were left distressed after a window was smashed on a coach taking them from the terminal to the plane.

Police were called after a male passenger trying to get the driver’s attention by ‘tapping’ his window smashed it.

The passenger had been trying to help a sick child to get off the coach.

A 45-year-old Guernseywoman who asked not to be named because she did not want her family, also on the flight, to be identified, described how passengers on the Flybe flight to Guernsey had been waiting on the shuttle coach for 30 minutes before tempers flared.

Her young niece had been sick beforehand and ground staff had been informed that she was unwell.

The 10-year-old girl’s mother called down the coach for assistance and a male passenger tried to get the attention of the driver by tapping on the window separating him from passengers.

‘The coach driver did not take any notice, so he tapped harder and harder again,’ she said. ‘The window cracked, small pieces fell out – then the whole window shattered. My niece and nephew became very distressed. The driver got off the coach and eventually the doors were opened and ground staff came.’

Passengers were then able to escape the hot conditions and were taken back to the airport lounge.