Keflavík International Airport has been closed ot traffic after a plane from the Icelandic airline Primera Air skidded off the runway upon landing. The cause of the accident is likely heavy snowfall and ice on the runway. Nobody was injured in the accident.
The accident took place shortly before 17:45. Airport staff is working to re-open the runway.
A spokesman for the airport who spoke to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service said that the passengers are still on-board the plane, but that nobody was hurt, although many were shaken by the incident. The cause of the accident is not known, but airport authorities believe difficult weather conditions are the most likely culprit.
The accident caused the North/South runway to be closed. The other major runway, the East/West runway is closed due to maintenance.
The next plane scheduled to land at Keflavík, a passenger jet flying from the Polish airline Wizz Air, flying in from Katowice, is scheduled to land at 20:00.
Update: 18:42 The passengers on board the Primera Air flight have been allowed to leave the plane, the local news site Vísir reports. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service spoke to a passenger on the plane who said it felt as if the plane didn't brake or slow down after landing. The plane will have to be towed back onto the runway before the runway can be re-opened.
Update: 19:40 RÚV now reports that all 137 passengers have been allowed to leave the Primera Air plane and are now being cared for at the terminal. The airport is still closed.
Keflavík International Airport has been closed ot traffic after a plane from the Icelandic airline Primera Air skidded off the runway upon landing. The cause of the accident is likely heavy snowfall and ice on the runway. Nobody was injured in the accident.
The accident took place shortly before 17:45. Airport staff is working to re-open the runway.
A spokesman for the airport who spoke to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service said that the passengers are still on-board the plane, but that nobody was hurt, although many were shaken by the incident. The cause of the accident is not known, but airport authorities believe difficult weather conditions are the most likely culprit.
The accident caused the North/South runway to be closed. The other major runway, the East/West runway is closed due to maintenance.
The next plane scheduled to land at Keflavík, a passenger jet flying from the Polish airline Wizz Air, flying in from Katowice, is scheduled to land at 20:00.
Update: 18:42 The passengers on board the Primera Air flight have been allowed to leave the plane, the local news site Vísir reports. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service spoke to a passenger on the plane who said it felt as if the plane didn't brake or slow down after landing. The plane will have to be towed back onto the runway before the runway can be re-opened.
Update: 19:40 RÚV now reports that all 137 passengers have been allowed to leave the Primera Air plane and are now being cared for at the terminal. The airport is still closed.
