Operations at Shannon Airport were suspended for a short time this morning after an aircraft became ‘disabled’ on the runway after landing.
The AirACT Boeing 747-481 jet, operating on behalf of Turkish Airlines Cargo, was scheduled to make a technical stop at Shannon Airport.
The flight made a normal approach to Shannon before landing without incident at 10.18am. The crew were directed to continue to the end of the runway to a turning area and make a 180 degree turn before returning back along the flight strip to the next taxiway.
While the flight crew were attempting to make their turn however, the pilot advised air traffic controllers that they were unable to do so and confirmed they would require a tug to tow them from the runway.
The crew of another aircraft that was ready to take off were advised of the situation and told they could not take off as planned but offered the option of departing in the opposite direction on the same runway. That flight was allowed to taxi along the runway, turn around and depart soon afterwards.
An inbound Delta Air Lines flight was delayed for a time while efforts were made to remove the jet from the runway. The flight was placed in a holding pattern for a short time while the disable jet was towed clear.
In the meantime, a ground crew with a tug was sent to tow the jet off the runway while an airport fire and service crew were also sent to investigate the issue.
The Jumbo jet was towed cleared of the runway and operations fully resumed shortly before 11.00am.
