31/10/2008

Thomas Cook Flight Skids Off Runway

A Thomas Cook chartered flight carrying British passengers has skidded off the runway of an airport in the Canary Isles.

The Air Europa Boeing-737 flight from Glasgow to Lanzarote came off the runway after touching down at the island's Arrecife airport at around 7.10am on Friday.

Passengers onboard the AEA-196 flight were unhurt by the accident, but are said to have felt "strong vibrations in the wings". There were 74 passengers onboard the flight. Emergency services were called to the airport this morning to remove the aircraft.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said: "We can confirm that an Air Europa flight AEA196, which was chartered by Thomas Cook, was involved in a runway incident at Lanzarote's Arrecife Airport this morning.

"Thomas Cook staff were on hand at the airport to assist all passengers and can confirm that all guests are now en route to their holiday hotels.

"Thomas Cook has called on Air Europa and the airport authorities to provide a full explanation."

Airport chiefs have grounded all flights in and out of Lanzarote while the plane is removed. It has been reported the plane suffered a broken axle and ended up perpendicular to the runway.

A spokesman for Air Europa said: "There was a problem on landing. All the passengers left the plane and are fine and being taken to their hotels."

(JM)

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