The ATR 72 aircraft, operated by Emerald Airlines for Aer Lingus, suffered an emergency incident on the afternoon of December 22
08:09, 13 Jan 2025Updated 08:09, 13 Jan 2025
The plane appeared to nosedive(Image: Michail Savekin )
An aircraft that crash-landed at a UK airport just before Christmas is set for investigations. The ATR 72 plane, flown by Emerald Airlines for Aer Lingus, faced an emergency around 4pm on December 22 while trying to touch down in ‘adverse weather conditions’.
It seemed as if the plane’s nose wheel gave way upon landing. The aircraft stayed put on the tarmac as emergency teams responded to the mishap, according to BelfastLive.
With only four crew members aboard and no passengers, thankfully, no injuries were reported from the ordeal. The kerfuffle led to all flights being axed or rerouted for the rest of the day at Belfast City Airport, affecting services to and from Manchester Airport.
The Aer Lingus aircraft remains at Belfast City Airport(Image: Jacob Bushe)
Per the Manchester Airport departures board at the time, the 4.10pm and 7.40pm flights to Belfast City got the chop. Journeys from Belfast City to Manchester on Sunday, including the 2.25pm, 3.50pm, and 6pm slots, were also scrapped.
Normal service resumed on the runway the next day. The involved aircraft is still parked at City Airport, with its return to the skies up in the air, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has stated: “The aircraft has not been moved because it is due to undergo further examination work as part of the ongoing investigation.”
The AAIB’s probes into incidents like these can take a hefty nine to 12 months to wrap up. A spokeswoman chimed in: “Our investigation into the accident on December 22 is still ongoing and it is too early to provide an update.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Emerald Airlines, the sole operator of Aer Lingus Regional services, stated: “An Emerald Airlines positioning flight, EA701P, with no passengers on board, flying from Edinburgh to Belfast City Airport, 22nd December 2024, experienced a hard landing upon arriving into Belfast City Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Due to ongoing reviews, we will not be providing further comment at this time.”
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