Birmingham Airport Recovers After Emergency Landing Halts Flights and Causes Major Disruption
Birmingham Airport experienced significant disruption on Wednesday after a small aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing, prompting the closure of the airport’s main runway for several hours. The incident began at around 1.40pm, as emergency services rushed to the scene to deal with the aftermath.
According to West Midlands Police, the emergency landing resulted in minor injuries for one of the three people onboard the light aircraft. The plane involved was identified as a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, which was seen in images circulating online lying flat on the tarmac. Police, fire and ambulance crews responded promptly, resulting in all three people being treated at the scene and then released, West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed.
The closure of the runway had far-reaching consequences for travellers, with mass delays and cancellations unfolding throughout the afternoon and well into the evening. Birmingham Airport initially announced a temporary suspension of flights at around 2.40pm. Hopes of a swift resolution soon faded, with the airport warning that operations might not resume until at least 8pm, leaving passengers stranded both in Birmingham and at departure points abroad.
In an official update released just before 8pm, Birmingham Airport confirmed that the runway had reopened and operations were resuming. The airport apologised for the disruption, recommending that travellers check the latest updates with their airlines. “Our teams have worked as quickly as possible, in line with strict protocols, which must be followed to ensure a safe reopening of the runway following a prolonged closure,” the statement read. Despite the reopening, several flights remained delayed well into the early morning, with some leaving as late as 12.10am according to the airport’s flight tracker.
The aircraft, operated by Woodgate Aviation, was on route to Belfast International Airport when, according to the company, it encountered a problem with its landing gear. Forced to return to Birmingham, the aircraft made an emergency landing during which the main undercarriage collapsed. Woodgate Aviation praised both its own crew’s handling of the situation and the swift response of airport emergency services, promising full cooperation with the subsequent investigation.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched a formal inquiry. Their team of specialists in aircraft operations and engineering arrived quickly to begin a thorough examination of the incident, reflecting routine but essential aviation safety procedures. Notably, another Beechcraft B200 Super King Air was recently involved in a tragic crash at London Southend Airport in July, a detail likely to inform the AAIB’s wider scrutiny.
Travellers felt the impact acutely, particularly those waiting abroad to return to the UK. Diana Celella, returning to Birmingham from Lisbon with her husband Luigi, was among those facing a long wait. After a week on holiday, their Ryanair flight originally booked for 8.20pm was delayed by several hours. Speaking to PA news agency, she acknowledged the disappointment of ending a holiday with a delay, but noted that most fellow passengers remained understanding of the circumstances. However, she expressed frustration at the lack of direct updates from Ryanair.
The incident prompted a range of political and official responses. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the disruption as “minimal” but nevertheless recognised its inconvenience to travellers. In earlier social media posts, West Midlands Police confirmed the sequence of events and reassured the public that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had been informed.
As flight schedules gradually returned to normal, Birmingham Airport and involved agencies began the process of reviewing protocols and accident response measures. While Wednesday’s events caused widespread inconvenience, timely professional interventions by emergency crews avoided serious injury and enabled operations to resume before the day’s end.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring passenger safety while minimising future disruption—a priority that resonates with both those directly involved and the wider travelling public.