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Birmingham airport closes runway after emergency landing by light aircraft Birmingham airport closes runway after emergency landing by light aircraft
(about 2 hours later)
All flights temporarily grounded as three people are treated at the scene, one with minor injuriesAll flights temporarily grounded as three people are treated at the scene, one with minor injuries
Birmingham airport has temporarily closed its runway and grounded all flights after a light aircraft made an emergency landing. Thousands of holidaymakers have been left stranded after flights at Birmingham Airport were grounded on Wednesday when a small aircraft made an emergency landing.
Three people from the aircraft were treated at the scene, one of whom suffered minor injuries in the incident, which occurred at about 1.40pm on Wednesday, West Midlands police said. West Midlands ambulance service also attended the scene. Three people from the aircraft were treated at the scene with one suffering minor injuries from the incident which occurred at around 1.40pm, West Midlands Police said.
Footage and images shared on social media appeared to show a small white plane lying flat on the airport tarmac. At least 25 flights listed on the departures page of the airport’s website to destinations across Europe had been cancelled. The airport said all flights would be grounded until at least 8pm on Wednesday.
Passengers have been told to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport. Five flights have been diverted from Birmingham Airport to Manchester Airport so far, the hub in Ringway told the Guardian. Some flights were also sent to East Midlands airport.
“We are at Birmingham Airport this afternoon after a small aircraft was involved in an emergency landing at around 1.40pm,” the West Midlands force wrote on X. Passengers have been told to check the status of their flight before coming to the airport in the West Midlands, with both check-in and security also temporarily shut.
“Officers are among the emergency crews at the scene and one person has been reported to have minor injuries. The Civil Aviation Authority has been informed and the airport has suspended operations as an investigation is carried out.” All of those on board the Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, which was flying to Belfast International Airport, have been discharged.
A Birmingham airport statement read: “Following an aircraft incident, the runway is temporarily closed. We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause. In a post on X, the airport said: “Following an aircraft incident that occurred this afternoon, operations are expected to remain suspended until at least 8pm. Passengers at the airport are advised to speak to their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.”
“We will keep passengers already at the airport informed and those due to travel later today are advised to check the status of their flight before coming to the airport. Gunnar Lauridsen, from Denmark who had been on holiday playing golf, said he would most likely miss his connecting flight because of the closed runway.
“We will continue to issue updates when we can.” Lauridsen, 76, said: “We are ultimately going to Billund in Denmark. This delay probably means we can’t get our connection. So that means that we will be staying probably in Amsterdam overnight.
West Midlands ambulance service said in a statement: “We were called at 1.45pm to an incident involving a light aircraft at Birmingham airport. “I should have been to the doctors tomorrow morning. When you travel things happen.”
“Hazardous area response team paramedics and three paramedic officers were sent to the scene. Camile Monteleone, 30, was meant to fly home to Barcelona after working in the UK for three days but did not know if her flight from the airport had been cancelled.
“Upon arrival we found three patients from the aircraft, all of whom were assessed and discharged at the scene.” The visual merchandiser said: “I don’t have any news. I’m like ‘what is going on’. It does not say anything on the Ryanair app about the flight. I’m just waiting for information. I have to let people know I’m here, stuck at the airport. I cannot do anything else.”
Faye Melhuish, who arrived home from a holiday in Spain with her six-month-old daughter, said her plane could not land at Birmingham Airport and had to be diverted.
The 38-year-old said: “We flew from Spain and we were due to land here at 2.20pm. Then, in the air we were circling to see if we could land. The captain basically said we are going to have to go to East Midlands (Airport).”
Speaking about her daughter, Melhuish said: “It’s her first time on a plane and her first time on a coach.”
West Midlands Police said in a post on X: “We are at Birmingham Airport this afternoon after a small aircraft was involved in an emergency landing at around 1.40pm. Officers are among the emergency crews at the scene and one person has been reported to have minor injuries.
“The Civil Aviation Authority has been informed and the airport has suspended operations as an investigation is carried out.”
A response to the incident will be led by the Air Accidents Investigations Branch, a Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson said. “In the event of delays or cancellations, passengers will be expected to be provided with food and drink as well as accommodation if delayed overnight,” the spokesperson added.
Woodgate Aviation said one of its Beechcraft fixed-wing aircraft was involved in the emergency landing due to “landing gear problems”.
ends
PA Media contributed to this report