Ticket holders for a luxury music festival in the Bahamas have been left stranded after the event turned to ‘chaos’.
Fyre Festival was billed as a ‘luxury music, art and food event’ supported by celebrities and hosted by hip-hop artist Ja Rule.
Some attendees are reported to have paid up to $12,000 for tickets to attend the festival on Great Exuma in the Bahamas.
Many took to social media to report flights had been cancelled and they had been left stranded on the runway next to the resort.
Others reported the festival site was half built, there was skeleton staff and the promised ‘luxury domes’ to stay in were in fact tents.
Expectation vs. Reality#fyre#fyrefestivalpic.twitter.com/U80NApajxl
— William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) 28 April 2017
Prior to the event, festival goers had been promised to be ‘flown roundtrip on a custom, VIP-configured Boeing 737 aircraft between Miami International’ and the island.
Many of these flights were cancelled with other passengers left stranded either on the runway or inside the airport.
In a statement sent to customers Fyre Festival said: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, to alleviate logistical challenges, all inbound charter flights to the Exumas have been cancelled. Your ticket… will be refunded.”
Just waiting with my Fyre Fest pals to get on the flight out. The plane hasn’t left Miami yet. It’s lit! #fyre#fyrefestivalpic.twitter.com/glIYmIG0dc
— William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) 28 April 2017
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism released a statement saying they were ‘extremely disappointed’ by the events and were not an official sponsor of the festival.
“We offer a heartfelt apology to all who travelled to our country for this event.
“Tourism is our number one industry and it is our aim to deliver world-class experiences and events.
“Hundreds of visitors to Exuma were met with total disorganisation and chaos.
“The event organisers assured us that all measures were taken to ensure a safe and successful event but clearly they did not have the capacity to execute an event of this scale. A team of Ministry of Tourism representatives is on the island to assist with the organisation of a safe return of all Fyre Festival visitors. ”
Headline performers Blink 182 pulled out of performing at the festival.