The head of the bankrupt tour company XL Leisure has denied responsibility for stranding tens of thousands of British holidaymakers overseas.

Phil Wyatt, the group's chief executive, said he had done his utmost to prevent the holidays of 285,000 people being hit by the collapse of the company, Britain's third-largest tour operator.

However, Mr Wyatt said, "67,000 people, who could have flown back on XL Airways" had been prevented from doing so by "the authorities - the Government, whoever."

In an emotional speech, he said instead they would now "come back on God-knows-what carriers that the Civil Aviation Authority find."

The company was taken into administration at 3am on Friday, blaming its plight on "volatile fuel prices and the economic downturn".

Insisting that he fought "night and day" to save the company, Mr Wyatt cast doubt over the CAA's ability to step in to save the stranded tourists. He said: "It's going to be the most challenging airlift, I believe, that anyone has undertaken."

As Mr Wyatt, who said he was "devastated" by the company's collapse, fought back tears at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel at Gatwick Airport, three XL planes were seized by Manchester airport.

After officials effectively clamped the planes in order to prevent them taking off, a spokesman said: "We have detained them on behalf of the administrators and we are one of the organisations that are owed money."

It is estimated that a total of 85,000 Britons are currently abroad on holidays with XL's various tour groups - including Kosmar, Travel City Direct and the Really Great Holiday Company, while a further 200,000 have had their flights scrapped.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/282356...blame.html