Birmingham Airport has temporarily closed its runway and halted all flight operations following an “aircraft incident” that occurred on August 6, 2025. The airport stated that the runway was closed after a light aircraft experienced difficulties, believed to be related to the plane's landing gear failing to deploy correctly. The affected aircraft, a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air twin turboprop operated by Woodgate Aviation, was attempting to return to Birmingham Airport after declaring an in-flight emergency. Emergency services responded promptly, and pictures showed the aircraft positioned on the runway with collapsed landing gear.

This unexpected closure has caused disruptions for passengers and airlines alike. Birmingham Airport, which is the seventh-largest in the UK and serves around 11.5 million passengers annually, advised all passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport. The airport management apologized for the inconvenience and pledged to keep those already at the terminal informed about developments. Flight diversions to alternate airports began immediately, with planes redirected to East Midlands, Manchester, and Stansted airports. For example, Air France and Ryanair flights originally bound for Birmingham were diverted to East Midlands, while an Aer Lingus Regional flight midway over the Irish Sea turned back to its departure airport following the closure.

Flight tracking data reveals the timeline of the aircraft involved. It took off from Birmingham at 1:16 pm, climbed to approximately 5,750 feet, and then entered a holding pattern. At 1:35 pm, it flew low over the runway, possibly allowing air traffic controllers to inspect its undercarriage. The plane finally touched down at around 1:57 pm. The last normal commercial flight before the runway closure was a Ryanair flight from Perpignan, landing at 1:52 pm, and shortly after, an easyJet flight to Tenerife departed. The runway closure was expected to last until around 6 pm local time, resulting in delays and cancellations of various flights scheduled afterward.

Birmingham Airport plays a significant role in the region's air transport infrastructure, serving more than 30 airlines with over 130 direct routes and hundreds of thousands of passengers each month. This incident highlights the vulnerability of airport operations to emergency landings and incidents involving smaller aircraft. The airport is actively managing the situation with emergency responders and providing timely updates to the public. Passengers travelling later in the day are strongly encouraged to verify the status of their flights before traveling to the airport, as flight schedules may continue to be affected while the runway remains closed for safety inspections and any necessary repairs.