A problem with the delivery aircraft left the Isle of Man without its UK Sunday newspapers, Isle of Man Today reported Sunday.

The airplane was unable to offload its papers due to a technical failure preventing the shutdown of its engines and was forced to return to the UK newspapers in tow.

"The four-engine Electra aircraft needed starting assistance using an Air Start Unit (ASU) which failed to work this morning, resulting in the aircraft being unable to close its engines down to allow for the unloading of the palletised newspapers," said an airport spokesman. "Whilst the aircraft is able to keep one right hand engine running to allow staff on board through the left hand door, the airport staff were reluctant to unload the aircraft."