This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/21/birmingham-airport-flights-suspended

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Birmingham airport flights suspended after plane overrun Birmingham airport flights suspended after plane skids off runway
(about 3 hours later)
Flights to and from Birmingham International airport have been suspended after a plane overran the runway as it touched down. Flights in and out of Birmingham international airport were suspended for about two hours on Friday after a plane skidded on to grass while taxiing after landing. The 135 passengers and crew members on Monarch flight ZB467 from Nice left the 737-300 aircraft by steps. There were no injuries.
An airport spokeswoman said the front wheels of the plane, Monarch flight ZB467 from Nice, left the runway after it landed. No injuries were reported. Monarch said the plane, operated by the Lithuanian company Aurela Airlines, was understood to have left the runway while it taxied to the terminal. "Passengers have now safely disembarked from the aircraft and have been coached to the terminal where they are being cared for by Monarch Airlines staff," said the company.
The spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that an incident involving Monarch flight ZB467 arriving from Nice and operated by Aurela Airlines occurred at 13.11 this afternoon. Airfield services are assisting the airline crew." "At this time we understand that no passengers or crew have sustained any injuries. Monarch apologises to all passengers on board and is offering them all possible assistance. Monarch is working with Birmingham airport to move the aircraft and is fully assisting with the authorities. As a standard precaution emergency services have attended the aircraft."
She said flights were suspended and more information would be provided as soon as it became available. The company has now suspended its leasing arrangement with Aurela.
The incident, which happened at 1.11pm UK time, led to a suspension of flights at the airport. They resumed by mid-afternoon, though some services to and from France and Germany were cancelled. Some departing flights were still subject to delay, the airport said. It confirmed there had been no injuries.
According to the BBC, Tim Witcherley, from Warwickshire, who was on the flight, said there had been a problem with the aircraft when it took off in Nice. "When we were being taxied on the runway, the plane turned and there was a juddering noise, as if the brakes had locked up, like you get on a car," he said. "Then it took off and we had an uneventful journey until we got back to Birmingham. Again, it was when we turned right that the same juddering started, the plane tilted and we ended up on the grass. There was no shouting, no panicking – people were just laughing. It was all very British."
Another passenger, Ian Smith, said it was the oldest plane he had ever flown on. "We landed on the runway fine but then something went wrong with taxiing. It [might have been] going too fast … and we slid on to the grass. We couldn't really see a lot, we weren't actually too far from the perimeter fence and trees. It's only after that you think it could've been a lot worse. We're all fine and disembarked normally."
Passenger Michelle Doyle said on Twitter: "Just 'landed' in Birmingham. Plane did a rally slide into the grass after landing. Thanks Monarch!!"
Alex Hall, a student at Warwick Business School, who was at the airport, tweeted: "On way to job interview, plane has come off runway at Birmingham airport!"
During the stoppage, incoming flights were diverted to Liverpool, East Midlands and Manchester airports.
The same plane, leased by Monarch, was involved in an incident on the Spanish island of Tenerife in August, when it had technical problems and about 150 passengers were unable to leave the island for two days.