Birmingham Airport shut as transplant aircraft crashes

[dutchman]

All flights at Birmingham Airport have been suspended and the runway closed after a small jet aircraft carrying organs for transplant crashed nearby.



The ambulance service said two people had been taken to hospital.

One witness said the plane was on fire as it came into land at 1535 GMT and then broke "into a fireball".

A West Midlands Police motorcycle was able to carry the organs from the crash scene through heavy traffic to the relevant hospital in time.

A Birmingham Airport spokesman said the aircraft involved was a private Cessna and all flights were currently suspended.

Eyewitness Dennis Gough was playing golf on a course by the runway at the time of the crash.

'Leaning to one side'

"As it was coming to land [the aircraft] was on fire and as as it approached the runway it looked like it was leaning to one side slightly," he said.

"Then, once it hit the runway there were sort of flames alongside the runway then it broke into a big fireball."

Passengers due to use the airport have been advised to contact their airline first.

"The incident occurred on arrival into the airport and the emergency services are in attendance," an airport spokesman said.

"The airport is currently closed."

Manchester Airport and East Midlands Airport said they were taking diverted flights from Birmingham.

Police said the A45 near to the airport has been closed and traffic is currently extremely busy in the area. Commuters have been advised to avoid the area if possible.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the air ambulance and paramedics were at the scene.