Birmingham Airport's runway reopened on Wednesday evening after an emergency landing by a small aircraft forced its closure, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing at least 25 flight cancellations. The incident occurred at around 1.40pm when a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, operated by Woodgate Aviation and en route to Belfast, experienced landing gear problems.
Three people on board the aircraft were treated at the scene, with one sustaining minor injuries, West Midlands Police confirmed. All individuals have since been discharged. The airport suspended operations until approximately 8pm, with incoming flights diverted to Manchester and East Midlands airports.
Passengers faced significant disruption, with many unaware of their flight status. Camile Monteleone, 30, who was due to fly to Barcelona, said she was stuck at the airport with no information from her airline. Faye Melhuish, 38, arriving from Spain with her six-month-old daughter, was diverted to East Midlands and described the experience as challenging.
The Air Accidents Investigations Branch has launched an investigation, deploying a multi-disciplinary team to the scene. The Civil Aviation Authority reminded passengers that airlines are obliged to provide food, drink, and accommodation if delays are prolonged. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the disruption as 'minimal' but acknowledged the frustration caused.
Birmingham Airport apologised for the inconvenience and advised passengers to check with their airlines for updated flight information before travelling.
