Belfast City Airport has closed its runway following an incident involving an Aer Lingus Regional ATR 72-600 aircraft. The plane’s nose gear collapsed during a hard landing amid strong gusts of wind as it arrived from Edinburgh.
Details of the Incident
The flight was a positioning journey with no passengers aboard, though four crew members were on the plane. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Belfast City Airport said:
“No passengers were on the aircraft when the incident happened. This was a positioning flight with no passengers but four crew members onboard.”
Emergency Response
The airport activated its emergency procedures immediately after the incident, deploying response teams to the scene.
Impact on Operations
The runway has been closed and will remain so for the rest of the day. Flights scheduled to land or depart from Belfast City Airport are expected to face disruptions, and passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updates.
Investigation Underway
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the nose gear collapse is expected, with authorities likely to review the impact of weather conditions at the time of landing.
This incident adds to the challenges faced by air travel during adverse weather conditions, and passengers are encouraged to stay informed as the airport works to resolve the situation.
