Glasgow Airport runway closed 72 minutes, causing delays

Glasgow Airport was forced to close its runway for over an hour on Tuesday afternoon following an incident involving a light aircraft during landing. The disruption led to multiple flight diversions and significant delays for thousands of passengers.

Emergency services were alerted at 3:48 p.m. on May 26. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched two fire appliances to the scene, where firefighters worked to make the area safe. According to witness accounts, the small aircraft appeared to dip its wing on the runway before coming to a stop, blocking the active surface.

The airport closed the runway to allow for safety inspections and the removal of the aircraft. During the closure, at least seven inbound flights were diverted to Edinburgh Airport, approximately 42 miles away. Affected airlines included easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui, Lufthansa, British Airways, and KLM, carrying an estimated 1,100 passengers who landed at the alternate airport.

Airport officials announced the runway had reopened at 5 p.m., a closure lasting 72 minutes. Operations subsequently returned to normal, though the airport thanked passengers for their patience during the incident.