Plane evacuated in runway drama
PASSENGERS had to be evacuated from a plane leaving Cardiff Airport as emergency services arrived on the runway.
Around 80 people were forced off the 10.20am flight to Paris on Saturday morning after a bird got into the engine.
As the plane was making its way down the runway the “brakes were slammed on” and a fire engine quickly pulled up alongside it on the
runway.
Jonny Alcock, from Tonyrefail, was on the flight travelling to the French capital when the incident took place.
The 26-year-old, who lives in France, said: “We got on the plane to go to Paris and everything was normal.
“As it went to take off the brakes were slammed on and we just stopped.
“Everyone was a bit shocked why we had stopped on the middle of the runway and then a fire engine pulled up.
“An announcement came on saying ‘nobody panic we will get it sorted’ and the pilot said ‘we will be getting everyone off the plane soon’. “A bird had got in the engine.” After being evacuated, the passengers had to wait until around 2pm to board another flight heading to Paris.
Mr Alcock added: “There was a little bit of panic because no-one really knew what was going on.
“Because the fire brigade arrived most people were a bit worried.
“I think the flight we were put on left at about 2pm.
“It was one of those freak things.” A spokeswoman at Cardiff Airport said: “At approximately 10.20 this morning, Flybe flight BE4565 to Paris Charles de Gaulle experienced a bird strike as it was preparing to depart.
“Emergency services attended and the aircraft taxied safely to a stand where passengers were offloaded and have now departed on another aircraft.
“The runway closed for a very short time; however, no other flights were affected, the runway reopened very shortly after and all flights continue to operate as scheduled.
“The safety and security of our staff and customers remains our number one priority.”