'We hope and pray it won't be delayed any further' - Holidaymakers facing further flight delays home after Birmingham Airport landing incident

Flights were grounded for several hours on Wednesday after a private light aircraft was involved in an emergency landing on the runway resulting in three people from the aircraft being treated at the scene with one suffering minor injuries from the incident, which happened at around 1.40pm. 

The incident left passengers facing late of delayed flights once the runway was reopened later in the night.

Birmingham couple Melva Stewart, aged 63,  retired accountant, and Ecton Bennett, aged 75, a retired motor technician, were among passengers hoping to board a delayed TUI flight back home when they were forced to extend their trip for an extra day due the incident.

They went to Golf de Sur in San Miguel in Tenerife for a six-night stay last Friday as a treat for Mr Bennett's birthday.

Miss Stewart said: "We were supposed to fly back home on Wednesday evening and only found out there was a problem at Birmingham when a relative text us to say there'd been an incident at the airport. 

"At first TUI said we should come to the airport in Tenerife to departures, but when we got there they said our original flight was cancelled last night. They took us to a nice hotel and gave us vouchers for meals.

"Now we're Back at the airport but we were supposed to leave at 18.25, but they've said the flight well be boarding at 18.47, so we're just waiting now and and hope and pray it won't b delayed any further so we can leave this evening(7).

"We're just watching the board for the updates."

"It's not too bad for us as we're retired, but the passengers who need to get back to work are probably feeling frustrated. We haven't really heard anyone complaining. We've been looked after okay by TUI. Apart from the inconvenience of not getting back on time we can't complain really," Miss Stewart added. 

TUI have been contacted for a comment.