Flights were diverted from a UK airport after an aircraft hit “multiple geese” this evening. Operations teams had to shut down the 23R runway at Manchester Airport after a Ryanair flight struck the birds on its approach into the city. A clean-up operation meant the runway had to be closed for around 20 minutes after the aircraft landed.
Due to the closure, four flights had to divert to Liverpool and Birmingham. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, this was due to the amount of fuel left in the planes, and both take-offs and landings had to operate from one runway for a short period. Multiple other flights were seen circling over Manchester and Lancashire during the incident, which temporarily closed the runway from 7.11pm to around 7.32pm.
EasyJet flight EZY7851 from Amsterdam, destined for Manchester, was seen flying over Rochdale before diverting to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and landing at 7.52pm. British Airways service BA1402 from London to Manchester diverted to Birmingham, seen circling over the Peak District before the decision to land in the Midlands. Another incident involved Jet2 flight LS852 from Funchal circling over Stockport and the Peak District before also diverting to Liverpool and landing at 7.36pm. A fourth flight, Jet2 flight LS938 from Paphos, Cyprus, landed in Liverpool at around 8pm after diverting.
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport confirmed the runway closure was for inspections and clean-up operations. Flights had to be redirected due to the temporary shutdown. Operations resumed after the necessary checks and maintenance were completed.
In light of the incident, passengers on affected flights experienced delays and had to recalibrate their travel plans. The safety and well-being of passengers remain a top priority in such situations to ensure a secure and smooth travel experience for all individuals involved.