AN EAST Lancashire man is stuck in Pakistan after airlines cancelled flights back to the UK over the coronavirus crisis.

Michael McKendry, from Colne, is stranded in Chakswari, Pakistan, along with others after flying over for a wedding on March 9.

The dad-of-five was due to return on March 30, but this was changed to March 27 when they realised there could be trouble returning later, however, the airline Oman Air cancelled the new flight, leaving many people with no way to return home.

As the UK has now become a no-fly zone for Pakistan, the only flights available are emergency returns by Qatar Airways, who are charging more than £1,000 to return to England.

Mr McKendry’s wife, Stacie McKendry has expressed her concern for her husband.

She said: “We are really struggling to get him home. He’s with 25 others who are all now stuck there with no way to get back and they have elderly people with them.

“Now the airlines have cancelled all the flights, and nobody has even notified us about what is happening, not even the agency My Trip UK, who we booked with.

“The government keeps saying that everyone needs to get back to the UK, but nothing is in place to get anybody home.”

The wedding was cancelled and Pakistan entered into a lockdown, which bans people from leaving their homes unless for very essential reasons.

Mrs McKendry said: “Anyone who is not complying with the rules there is beaten.

“It is hard for them to even go out and get food or go to the travel agents to ask about flights home.

“We have five children at home, so it’s very hard for me when my husband is stuck in another country.”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “There are 100 people stuck abroad from Colne, and 50 of them are in Pakistan. We are working with the Foreign Office to ensure all Brits are brought back to the UK.

“It is very difficult to do this for families when there are no flights, but we have had some success from different parts of the world.”

Mr Stephenson advised all those stuck abroad in Pakistan to search for the British High Commission they will be able to get up-to-date advice from their social media.

My Trip UK has been contacted for a response.