Birmingham Airport Reopens After Emergency Landing Disruption

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Birmingham Airport resumed operations on Wednesday evening after being forced to close for several hours when a small aircraft made an emergency landing. 

The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, bound for Belfast, was forced to return shortly after takeoff when its landing gear failed. On landing, its undercarriage collapsed, prompting a swift response from emergency crews, including paramedics and firefighters. Three people on board were treated at the scene; one sustained minor injuries.

The runway closure lasted nearly six hours and caused widespread disruption. At least 25 outbound flights were cancelled, and some inbound flights were diverted to airports including Manchester and East Midlands. Thousands of passengers were delayed, many having to rearrange travel plans or find alternative routes.

The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, described the disruption as “minimal” while acknowledging how frustrating it was for passengers.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has opened an inquiry into the cause of the landing gear failure, while the Civil Aviation Authority is working with the airport on reviewing safety procedures.

As one of the UK’s busiest airports outside London, Birmingham Airport urged travellers to check with their airlines before arriving and thanked passengers for their patience during the disruption.