A Boeing 737-800 jet flying from the Iceland capital, Reykjavik, to Madrid, Spain, was diverted to Birmingham after a technical problem. According to a recent video of the landing, the left tire seems faulty, most likely reason is that it must have blew on takeoff, possibly damaging the hydraulics.
A Birmingham spokesperson has already confirmed, “the D86241 landed safely with 152 crew and passengers on board.”
This is a Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA airplane, a Norwegian low-cost airline. It is the third biggest low-cost carrier in Europe behind easyJet and Ryanair, and the ninth-largest low-cost airline in the world.
Passengers and crew have been taken to the terminal where they are being assisted by Birmingham Airport.
Passengers waiting in Birmingham Airport terminal were given a 15£ lunch ticket and some of the passengers have confirmed to Via News they will be staying at the Holiday Inn, while the situation is being solved.
Birmingham Airport fire trucks sprayed the airplane with foam to prevent fire, soon after he landed. The Runway was temporarily closed but reopened a little after 16 PM, local time.
A Portuguese passenger aboard the airplane, who wishes to remain anonymous, told exclusively to Via News how the mid-air emergency took place.
“Prior to landing the plane, the pilot informed the passengers that the landing would be normal, possibly just a slightly more abrupt than usual. As a safety precaution, the pilot warned us to follow the flight attendants instructions regarding emergency landing procedures.
Flight attendants warned the passengers they would shout, when the time was right, so we would sit in the previously-instructed emergency landing position.
Moments before landing the plane, flight attendants started to scream from the back of the plane that we had to position. “Stay down, stay down”, one by one, in cascade, the flight attendants shouted along the cabin. They were also screaming repeatedly for us not to move. That was the worst part for me.”
After safely landing and leaving the plane, the passengers were left waiting in the Birmingham terminal. At some point. the passengers saw the flight deck cabin crew and applauded them. According to the same Portuguese passenger, “They [flight deck crew] passed by us and people clapped them. They kept looking forward and never looked at us. Maybe they were still in shock too.”
“During those moments, important, and apparently not so important things crossed my mind. I wondered if I would ever see my children and granddaughter again, or if I would ever see another Cristiano Ronaldo goal again”, said the Portuguese passenger.
Last update on 2018/06/17 at 17:48 – London time.