Whippet on runway causes chaos at Manchester Airport
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Stock photo, Manchester Airport: PA
Dozens of flights were delayed and one diverted this weekend after a whippet took Manchester Airport staff on a wild dog chase around the runway.
The dog had been on a walk with its owners nearby when it ran off past a manned access point and through a cargo area on to the tarmac, according to the Mirror.
It took staff 40 minutes to catch the whippet, a canine known for its particularly fast feet.
Duty manager Gary Brown told the paper: "If there is any lost animal on the runway, we have to stop all flights straight away.
"It took some time to catch it. There was a build-up of flights. We had to suspend a Turkish Airways flight from Istanbul and divert it to Birmingham."
According to The Sun, 12 aircraft went into circling patterns as well as the Turkish Airways flight being diverted 100 miles.
A member of Manchester band the Inspiral Carpets, DJ Clint Boon, was one of the passengers delayed by the wandering whippet. He tweeted: "Delayed flying from Paris because of industrial action. Delayed landing at Manchester due to 'dogs on the runway'. I love this city."
The dog was eventually caught and happily reunited with its owners later on.
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- Courchevel Airport, France<p> This Alpine airport is home to an extremely short uphill runway (1,722 feet) - and there's a vertical drop at the end. Oh, and then there's the wind, sleet and snow - all of which play havoc with all things airbourne.</p>
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- Congonhas Airport, Brazil<p> Located around five miles from the centre of Sao Paulo, Congonhas is one of the busiest airports in Brazil. The proximity to the city centre means it may feel like you're skimming the tops of skyscrapers as you land and take off.</p>
- Toncontin Airport, Honduras<p> Landing at Toncontin Airport is particularly challenging for pilots due to its proximity to the mountains. In 2008 after a tragic plane crash, the airport was closed to international traffic. A major review of airport safety took place and in May 2009 a runway extension was completed. But despite this, it still has one of the shortest international runways in the world.</p>
- La Aurora Airport, Guatemala<p> An approach to this airport means traversing mountainous terrain and this sometimes involves flying over occasionally active volcanoes. A recent eruption from the Pacaya volcano in 2010 caused the airport to close. Planes run the risk of ending up covered in ash, as this image of a just-landed American Airlines jet shows...</p>
- Caracas Airport, Venezuela<p> Located in the Maiquetia region of Caracas, this international airport handles flights to many important cities in the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Its proximity to buildings and mountains make it a technically very difficult landing strip.</p>
- Ice Runway, Antarctica<p> Used mainly by the US Antarctica Program during the summer, this sea-ice runway has to be constructed every year as it melts around December time. Pilots who've landed on the ice say it's much like landing on concrete initially, but when the plane comes to a standstill its wheels sink a into the ice. <a href="http://travel.aol.co.uk/2011/06/09/revealed-the-worlds-worst-airlines/" target="_blank"><strong>Don't miss our feature: Revealed! The world's worst airlines!</strong></a></p>
- Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong<p> Pilots had to be extremely skilled to negotiate numerous skyscrapers and mountains before landing on a runway jutting out into Victoria Harbour.</p> <p> Between 1925 and 1998 Kai Tak served as the main airport in Hong Kong. It has now been replaced by a new airport at Chek Lap Kok.</p>
- Gibraltar Airport<p> One of Gibraltar's busiest roads, Winston Churchill Avenue, crosses directly over the runway for North Front airport. This means that the road can be closed for around two hours a day - mainly servicing planes to and from the UK. A tunnel under the runway is due to be completed in 2012.</p>
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