Emergency services rushed to Hawarden Airport in Flintshire on Saturday afternoon, July 18, after a light aircraft flipped on the runway. The incident occurred at approximately 3:10 pm, triggering an immediate emergency response. Two people were on board the aircraft and emerged relatively unscathed.
Details of the Incident
According to reports, the aircraft came to rest nose-down on the tarmac at a 45-degree angle to the runway direction. Images from the scene show three fire engines positioned on the asphalt runway, with a low loader crane working to hoist the aircraft onto its carrying deck. Photographer Martyn John Wulfran from Chester documented the recovery and posted it on X, stating: "Emergency services and airport officials have been dealing with a plane that has apparently flipped over on the runway at Hawarden Airport."
Emergency Response and Casualties
The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed it attended the scene but was not required to transport anyone. A spokesperson said: "We did attend, but neither patient required hospital treatment." North Wales Fire and Rescue Service deployed teams from Deeside, Buckley, and Wrexham to the incident. The airport's 2,093-metre runway was closed for approximately seven hours as a result.
Impact on Operations
Hawarden Airport confirmed that flight operations were suspended from 3:10 pm until 10 pm on Saturday. A spokesperson stated: "We can confirm there was a light aircraft incident at Hawarden Airport on Saturday, July 18. The airport resumed operations at 10 pm on Saturday. All other queries will need to be directed to the authorities." The airport handles business jets, private aircraft, and logistics planes, including the Airbus Beluga transporters that carry wings from the nearby Airbus Broughton facility to European sites.
