Grounded! Volcano halts hundreds of holiday flights

HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to Manchester Airport faced massive disruption today as all flights were suspended until further notice.

Severe chaos engulfed Ringway after ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moved towards UK airspace.

Staff were told it could be until midnight before services resume. A spokesman for Manchester Airport said 175 flights had been grounded so far.

He said although the airport was hoping to start clearing the backlog of flights later today, he urged passengers to check with their airlines before travelling.

He added: “The Met Office and National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have placed restrictions on UK airspace as a result of the ash drifting across the country from Iceland.”

Several UK airports closed this morning, and every other UK airport was closed by lunchtime

Forecasters believe the ash, which presents a serious risk of damage to aircraft engines, could take days to disperse.


GOT friends, relatives, neighbours stranded abroad by the volcano?

Think your own flight might be affected?

Email us NOW at news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk.