Bristol Airport suspended all flights due to a defect on its runway, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and leading to reports of chaos within the terminals. The airport announced that operations would be halted until at least 6 a.m. Saturday, with arriving flights being diverted to other airports, including London, Birmingham, and Cardiff.
<![CDATA[Passengers left stranded at Bristol Airport were left 'screaming' after a defect on the runway suspended all flights.]]></attachment>Nearly 50 inbound flights and 14 scheduled departures were affected by the suspension. Passengers described crowded departure gates and a lack of communication from airport staff. One passenger, Richard Broadbent, told the BBC that his partner and daughter were unable to board their flight to Newcastle. He reported that alarms sounded, leading to people screaming, and that passengers attempted to leave the area, with a perceived absence of staff.
Some travelers complained of long periods without announcements and criticized the communication from the airport. One social media post described EasyJet as holding everyone "hostage" and demanding to be let out.
A spokesperson for Bristol Airport stated that operations were temporarily suspended as a precaution to inspect and repair the runway defect. "Safety is always our number one priority," the spokesperson said, advising customers to contact their airlines for flight queries. The airport warned of significant disruptions for travelers.
Flights were expected to remain suspended until at least 6 a.m. on Saturday.