A runway at Manchester Airport has been closed due to a vehicle fire in a road tunnel which runs underneath.
Flights have been moved to the airport’s second runway due to the smoke, causing delays and diversions.
A Manchester Airport spokeswoman said that seven flights had been diverted elsewhere so far because of the closure, and that there were delays for the “majority” of flights.
Due to an ongoing incident close to the airport we have had to switch runway operations. This is causing delays to some flights. 1/2
— Manchester Airport (@manairport) February 28, 2017
2/2 We advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline.
— Manchester Airport (@manairport) February 28, 2017
She said: “There is a fire in the road tunnels that go underneath the runway. The fire brigade are on scene at the moment dealing with the fire but due to the smoke we’ve moved our operations from runway one to everything on runway two.
“We’re just waiting on updates from the fire service before we can assess when to reopen.”
A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said a van had caught fire on Wilmslow Road, which tunnels under the runway.
We are currently dealing with a car fire on the Wilmslow to Hale carriageway. Please avoid the area
— Cheshire Police (@cheshirepolice) February 28, 2017
The fire brigade attended and put the blaze out, she said.
Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flight with their airline.
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