LAST UPDATE | 6 Aug

BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT’S RUNWAY has reopened after a plane was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after 2pm this afternoon.

Paramedics and emergency services attended the scene, where three people were treated for minor injuries. The closure has impacted arrivals and departures for hours, and is likely to impact over 20 flights between the English city and the island of Ireland.

Over a dozen flights between Birmingham and Ireland, flying to and from Belfast and Dublin airports, have been diverted or cancelled this evening. In a social media post, the airport apologised for the inconvenience.

Birmingham Airport subsequently confirmed that the runway would re-open at 8pm.

Passengers at the airport have been continually updated today, and airport management has asked those seeking to travel later today to check the status of their flight before arriving. 

Images of a small plane being assisted on the runway have been shared on social media.

Birmingham Airport said all passengers on board the plane did not require additional medical attention and were discharged by ambulance crews, which arrived at the scene.

Potentially hundreds of passengers travelling to and from Ireland this evening have been impacted by the closure.

Ten flights from Ireland were scheduled to arrive at Birmingham Airport from Belfast and Dublin airports this evening. At least eight of them have since been cancelled or diverted back to the airport they departed from.

Twelve flights to Dublin and Belfast, including two late-night journeys to Dublin, are scheduled throughout the evening. More than half of them have been cancelled or rescheduled today.

When flying to and from the EU, passengers are entitled to a refund or a re-routing on the next available flight, or flight of their choosing, if their journey has been cancelled. Details of the scheme are typically provided to passengers following a cancellation.