Third World', 'A Shambles' just a few well chosen words aimed at Belfast City Airport following the events on Sunday the 21st February 2010, when the pilot, his first officer and a member of ground staff had to climb onto the wings of the British Midland, London bound aircraft, in order to clear snow.

The Belfast Telegraph who first broke the story on Monday spoke to the former head of the Assets Recovery Agency, Alan McQuillan who was a passenger on the aircraft. The paper reports him as saying: 'We were told the de-icing machine had run out of fluid and apparently they had forgotten to fill the other one up'.

Editorial

Not only were the passengers on board this London bound aircraft amazed by the bizarre spectacle of senior flight crew, clearing snow of its wings with a broom, but no doubt readers of the Belfast Telegraph were astounded that the airport put forward a spokesman who stated 'the manual removal of ice was a recognised practice. It may well be. although in all my years of flying I have never personally witnessed it, but is Belfast City Airport implying that it is normal practice for senior flight staff to mount the wings of their plane with brooms.

Northern Ireland's politicians must remember when considering the runway extension and other plans at Belfast City Airport that ice has downed planes in the past and if one fell from the skies whilst taking off from this, a CITY airport, thousands could be killed

The Belfast Telegraph in its coverage of this story also referenced that it is not the first time this airport has been caught on the hop with bad weather and many East & South Belfast residents, including residents under the flight path in North Down will be aware that it was they that were inconvenienced by the noise of aircraft, taking off on the approach to midnight, just a month ago. This story leaves us in no doubt at the moment this is not a 'Best' city airport

Last Updated: 23rd February 2010