Last week a mouse running amok aboard a Boeing 777 cost British Airways a fortune in compensation when a Heathrow-San Francisco flight departed four hours late. This week, a shortage of toilet paper and “the wrong kind of headphones” delayed a Gatwick-Barbados flight even longer.

The messy situation has left BA with a prospective bill of up to £291,200 in compensation under European passengers’ rights rules, as well as thousands more in extra expenses such as meals for delayed travelers.

The BA 777, with a capacity of 280, was due to leave at 1.40pm on Sunday afternoon. The passengers were scheduled to touch down on the Caribbean island at sunset, in good time to polish off drinks and dinner before a good night’s sleep.

But due to what appears to be inadequate preparation of the aircraft, departure was initially delayed by 1 hour 40 minutes.

Bill Murray, later reported on Twitter: “BA2153 utter shambles. BA cost cutting means we're all disembarked due to shortage of bog roll!”

A British Airways spokesperson said: “We are sorry customers were delayed after some of the many items needed for the flight weren't loaded on to the aircraft.

“We gave customers“We gave customers refreshment vouchers so they could get something to eat and drink in the terminal and we got them away on their holidays as soon as the aircraft was ready.”