Delays after RAF jet emergency landing
06.08.08
Passengers faced delays at Newcastle Airport today after an RAF Tornado jet from Marham in Norfolk made an emergency landing and then overshot the runway yesterday evening following a mid-air bird strike. The plane was later removed from near the runway but flights were diverted last night and a number were still subject to delays on this morning.
The fighter jet was in the process of landing after the bird strike when it failed to stop on the runway before coming to rest on grass. Ambulance crews were called to the scene and the incident caused major problems for passengers flying in and out of the airport. The runway was closed for 90 minutes, with arrivals diverted to other airports and departures suspended.
Two people on board the jet were taken to hospital with minor injuries according to Northumbria Police. The Ministry of Defence said neither was injured. Its investigators will be probing whether the craft hit a bird or whether the bird became trapped inside the engine.
Graham Mason, a spokesman for Newcastle Airport, said: ‘The runway was closed for about 90 minutes and some flights had to be diverted to Manchester, Edinburgh and Durham Tees Valley airports.'
‘We have procedures in place to deal with this type of situation and I'm pleased to say they worked well. The impact of the runway being closed was relatively limited because it was for a brief period of time, but we apologise to passengers who were affected.'
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