A Ryanair 737-800 managed to avoid a serious accident at Prestwick Airport today after sliding on ice whilst taxiing on the runway. The plane lost control and slid off the runway into a grass verge causing disruption to several flights whilst emergency services ensured the plane and passengers were safe.

None of the 129 passengers or the 6 flight crew were injured in the incident, but the runway had to be closed whilst the emergency services dealt with the aircraft. The plane had landed just before 0900 GMT having flown from Dublin to Glasgow Airport / Prestwick Airport before hitting the patch of ice and the runway was reopened by 1100 GMT.

Ryanair issued the following statement: “After a normal landing was completed and while taxiing from the runway the aircraft encountered ice and slid just off the runway onto the grass verge. Passengers disembarked normally and were bussed to the terminal. Ryanair engineers are at the aircraft, which appears to have suffered no damage and they are working with Glasgow Airport to return the aircraft to the stand area so that the runway can be reopened with minimum delay. Ryanair apologises for any disruption suffered by passengers as a result of this incident.”

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