Snow Chaos at Leeds Bradford Airport Leaves Passengers Stranded on Runway
Passengers were reportedly stuck on a runway after heavy snowfall brought chaos to Leeds Bradford Airport in the UK on Friday, February 13. The wintry weather caused huge delays, with reports indicating that only one de-icer truck was working at the time.
Flights have been delayed at the airport, while some have been cancelled entirely. One plane bound for Barcelona, Spain, was scheduled to depart at 7.40am but was not expected to leave until 4pm, highlighting the severe disruption.
Passenger Frustration Mounts
One flyer expressed their frustration, stating: "Chaos at Leeds Bradford Airport, sat on Jet2 flight to Paris for 6 hours now and plenty more delayed due to ice and LBA only having one working de-icer truck and Jet2 no longer having their own in-house de-icer, according to pilot."
The passenger added that planes nearby had disembarked, and passengers on the Paris flight had also left, underscoring the inconsistent handling of the situation.
Airport Response and Operations
A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford Airport said: "LBA has remained open and fully operational throughout the day. While some airlines have experienced delays to departing flights due to the adverse weather conditions, airport operations continue as normal and passengers are advised to check directly with their airline for the latest flight information."
This incident follows a previous closure of the runways at Leeds Bradford Airport last year, which lasted for nine hours due to an unforeseen issue, as reported by the Mirror. The airport typically operates flights 24 hours a day and serves about five million passengers annually.
In a statement from last summer, the airport emphasized: "Due to an unforeseen issue with the runway, we have had to take the decision to close the airport. Customers are advised to check with their airline for the most up-to-date information regarding their flight. We are working to resolve the disruption as soon as possible, the safety and comfort of the passengers travelling through our terminal is our number one priority. Our team is on the ground in the terminal to answer any customer queries regarding departures."
The recent snow chaos has raised concerns about the airport's preparedness for winter weather, particularly with the limited de-icing resources reported by passengers.
