Citywing operator flights grounded

Citywing says its operator's flights have been grounded after an incident involving a plane headed for Belfast yesterday.

The company says the flight had to return to Ronaldsway airport because of deteriorating weather conditions.

A statement from Citywing doesn’t say what happened – but says the Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation and asked Van Air, the flight’s operator, to stop flying.

Citywing’s managing director David Buck says all his company’s flights will be affected until further notice.

Yesterday, Ronaldsway airport shut its runways for more than two hours following the flight’s return from Belfast – but authorities haven’t said why the closure was necessary.

Mr Buck says Van Air has chartered a plane from Titan Airways, based at Stansted, to provide flights to Belfast and Newcastle today.

Passengers heading to Glasgow and Blackpool will be given further transport to their destination.

Mr Buck says has apologised for the disruption it will mean for people’s travel plans.