Italian low-cost airline Wind Jet was forced to close down at midnight last night following the collapse of talks between it and Alitalia which were intended to lead to the absorption of the low-cost airline by Italy’s national carrier.

As a result, up to 500,000 passengers booked to fly on Wind Jet are now stranded and alternative ways will have to be found to bring them back home.

The Italian low-cost airline was centred on Catania and its owner is also the owner of the Catania football team, Antonino Pulvirenti.

The company employed 500 people who will now lose their jobs, as will a number of part-time workers.

Five of Wind Jet’s planes were said by the Italian media to have been blocked in Malta. According to some, the planes are in Malta for maintenance while according to others they have been blocked in Malta in lieu of payments due.