What they could have done, is said, "You are here until we can get our flight back out - you will have to sort out your own accommodation".
Nope, they have no option to say that. Neither do Ryanair.
This means they must provide:
- A reasonable amount of food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers)
- A means for you to communicate (often by refunding the cost of your calls)
- Accommodation, if you’re delayed overnight (usually in a nearby hotel)
- Transport to and from the accommodation (or your home, if you are able to return there)
Care and assistance for short-haul delays | Resolving Travel Problems | Passengers
That's a very useful page to print-out and keep in the back of your passport.
What would Ryanair have said? It's not our fault - exceptional circumstances!
Probably not best to bring up the 'extraordinary circumstances' clause since Jet2 recently lost their appeal for using that excuse.
Ryanair's claim was that the volcanic ash incident exceeded 'extraordinary' and therefore the requirements to accommodate passengers was not binding. The ECJ ruled that was nonsense ( there is nothing beyond extraordinary! ) and Ryanair, and all other airlines, are therefore bound.