Sounds like a diversion 'of convenience' for the airline. Other flights arriving around the time the TCX flight was due.
The Manchester TCX flight to Dalaman departed 10+ hours late and due back 22+ hours late according to the MAN website. Probably more to do with recovering the situation at Manchester than 'unsafe to land' at Newcastle.
Last edited by TSR2; 19th Dec 2011 at 19:14.
Reason: Update