Plane nose touches runway after wheel collapse at Belfast City Airport
- An Aer Lingus positioning flight experienced a hard landing due to strong winds in Belfast.
- Emergency services responded immediately to ensure the safety of the crew and airport operations.
- All flights from Belfast City Airport were cancelled and redirected due to the runway closure.
On December 22, 2024, an Aer Lingus regional flight operated by Emerald Airlines encountered a serious incident while landing at Belfast City Airport in Northern Ireland. The flight, which was a positioning flight coming in from Edinburgh, had no passengers on board but did have four crew members. As the aircraft attempted to land, gusts of wind up to 82mph impacted the landing, leading to the collapse of the nose gear. This dramatic event resulted in a swift response from emergency services, who were called to the scene to ensure safety amidst the chaos. The incident unfolded at approximately 4 PM, prompting the airport to declare a 'full emergency.' Fire, police, and ambulance services were quickly deployed, resulting in a large logistical effort at the airport. Fortunately, despite the gravity of the situation, there were no serious injuries reported among the crew members. However, the incident caused significant disruption, leading to a complete shutdown of Belfast City Airport's runway for the remainder of the day. Because of this closure, many flights were cancelled and redirected to Belfast International Airport. The airport's spokesperson stated that they were at near capacity due to the increased number of diverted flights, and they asked for passengers' patience as they managed the situation. The severe weather conditions affecting the UK had already led to significant travel disruptions, including over 100 cancellations at Heathrow Airport. The yellow weather warning issued in anticipation of strong winds highlighted the challenging conditions facing travelers during the holiday season. As a result of this event, travel plans for many individuals were heavily impacted, as airport authorities urged those planning to travel to check for the latest updates with their airlines. The incident underscored the risks associated with extreme weather conditions during the busy travel period, illustrating the challenges that airlines and airports face when natural forces interfere with transportation operations.