A Tui flight today skidded off the runway while landing at Leeds Bradford airport as Storm Babet continues to cause widespread damage across the UK, resulting in the unfortunate loss of three lives. Flight TOM3551, which departed from Corfu shortly after 12.30pm local time (10.30am BST), encountered challenging weather conditions as it attempted to land at the airport. Despite the strong winds, the Boeing 737-800 slipped off the tarmac and became stranded on the adjacent grass area.
Upon the aircraft’s landing at approximately 1.53pm BST, the airport’s emergency siren was activated, signaling the incident. Eyewitnesses described the landing as particularly forceful, emphasizing the severity of the situation. The plane was swiftly surrounded by emergency vehicles, including three ambulances, as they worked to evacuate passengers. The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that there were no reported injuries or fire. However, all flights at Leeds Bradford Airport were temporarily suspended, with some arrivals redirected to alternative airports such as Manchester.
The storm wreaked havoc in Britain, prompting the Met Office to issue a rare red weather alert, warning of a ‘danger to life’. Tragically, three individuals have already lost their lives due to the severe weather conditions. In Scotland, a woman was swept into raging waters in Angus, resulting in her untimely death. Additionally, a second person was confirmed dead after a tree struck a van on the B9127 at Whigstreet near Forfar. Furthermore, a man lost his life in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, after being caught in fast-flowing flood water. He became the storm’s third victim.
Nottinghamshire also witnessed dramatic scenes as emergency services rescued four individuals trapped on the roof of a vehicle that had become stranded in floodwater.
