Budapest Airport closed: Major airport in Europe shut after Ethiopian Airlines plane skids off runway amid black ice warning
A major airport in Europe is closed after a plane skid off the runway.
Freezing rain hit Budapest in the morning, prompting Liszt Ferenc International Airport to close. It is expected to re-open by 2 p.m.
The closure came after the nose gear of an Ethiopian Cargo Boeing 777F slid off the taxiway while moving to its parking spot. In a statement issued at 11:40 a.m., operator Budapest Airport wrote that, the Liszt Ferenc International Airport, similarly other airports in Central Europe, had been closed due to the increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing.
It said in a statement: “Due to the adverse weather conditions, and similarly to several airports in Central Europe, a temporary airport closure has been implemented at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, due to the increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing. For safety reasons, the airport has temporarily suspended all arrivals and departures since 10:25.
“Snow and black ice have been detected at Ferenc Liszt International Airport and its surroundings since early Tuesday morning, 13 January, so the airport is currently on the highest level of preparedness for snow. Budapest Airport’s services are working hard to continuously clear the runways, taxiways and aprons.”
It added: “During the course of the morning, the nose gear of Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight ETH3707 slipped off the paved surface of a taxiway onto the grass while taxiing, causing the aircraft to become stuck. The investigation into the circumstances of the incident is currently ongoing, and the airport operator, in cooperation with the competent authorities, is doing everything possible to free the aircraft.”
Elsewhere, Vienna International Airport has announced it will resume operations from 11am local time after the icy conditions forced staff to close the airport on Tuesday morning. Freezing rain also left Prague's Vaclav Havel Airport operating in a "very limited mode", according to a message on its X account.
Delays were expected through the day and arrivals were being restricted as staff worked to de-ice the main runway, it added. Bratislava's airport was also closed due to weather conditions until 11.15am local time on Tuesday, the airport said on its Facebook account.