Home News archive Plane Carrying Liverpool’s Co-owner Overshoots Runway

Plane Carrying Liverpool’s Co-owner Overshoots Runway

Flights have been cancelled after a private plane carrying Liverpool fc’s co owner Mike Gordon came off the runway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The airport, which has been closed since the plane landed 15 hours ago, says it cannot guarantee it will reopen before Friday but expects to issue an update at 21:00 GMT.

Four people were on board but no-one was hurt.

A source at Liverpool Football Club confirmed the private jet was carrying one of the club’s owners, Mike Gordon.

More than 9,000 passengers have had flights cancelled, delayed or transferred to Manchester Airport and many have booked into hotels for the night.

Mr Gordon, who is the president of Fenway Sports Group, was on a flight from Bedford, Massachusetts to Liverpool to attend a regular meeting at the club.

“He was not injured but would like to pass on his appreciation to the staff at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the emergency services for their amazing work,” the source said.

At 19:55 the airport – which has apologised to passengers – tweeted that work to deal with the problems continued.

A specialist removal team and firefighters has been struggling all day to remove the plane’s wheels, which became embedded in mud 59m (194ft) to the side of the runway.

They have been trying to dig out a track with the aim of dragging the plane out on to the runway.

Once the jet is removed, a runway inspection will be carried out before the airport can reopen.

Liverpool Airport operations director Paul Staples said the jet was too close to the landing strip to use the runway.

“We can’t compromise safety,” Mr Staples said, adding runways must have 75m of clear space.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is investigating.

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