Stornoway Airport incident: Passengers in hospital

The Saab 340 aircraft operated by Loganair was leaving for Glasgow when the incident happened at Stornoway Airport on Lewis at 8:33am yesterday.

Two men were taken to Western Isles Hospital with minor injuries. Police said that two female passengers sustained minor injuries but declined medical assistance.

The 26 passengers and three crew were evacuated from the aircraft and returned to the main terminal.

An investigation has been launched to establish what caused the incident and whether wind conditions may have contributed.

Passenger Murdo MacAskill said: “The plane came down with a bump and we veered far off to the left. I looked out the window and I saw the grass coming up and I knew that there was something wrong so entered the brace position and that’s when the plane crashed.

“We were evacuated from the plane within, I would say, under five minutes. Everyone was standing on the Tarmac then and by that stage you had the fire service and the police there.”

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A Loganair spokesman said: “On departure from Stornoway Airport, the 8:30am flight BE6821 for Glasgow left the runway during take off. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated and returned to the airport’s terminal. Two passengers sustained what we understand are minor injuries and have gone to the local hospital.

“A full investigation is now under way to ascertain the cause of the incident and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been notified.” There were some delays and cancellations to flights at the airport yesterday afternoon. Normal operations were expected to resume once the plane has been removed from the runway.

In a statement, Stornoway Airport said: “Efforts to remove the aircraft from the runway are ongoing and investigations into the cause of the incident are under way. It is our intention to resume normal operations as soon as the aircraft is safely removed from the runway.”

After leaving the runway, the plane came to rest on the grass next to it. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent three appliances to the scene.

A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that around 08:33hrs a report was received of an incident involving an aircraft at Stornoway Airport in the Outer Hebrides.

“A Saab aircraft operated by Flybe/Loganair which was due to take off from Stornoway and destined for Glasgow Airport, came off the runway and came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. “As a result of the incident, two male passengers received injuries and were taken to

Stornoway Hospital for further assessment/medical treatment. Two female passengers received minor injuries and declined medical assistance.

“The remaining 22 passengers and 3 crew were uninjured. A full Air Accident investigation has now been launched and will be carried out by the AAIB in conjunction with Police

Scotland.”

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