Stansted plane collision: Ryanair flight carrying Irish voters home for abortion referendum struck by jet on taxiway

'I have a lot of friends who are very emotional today and they could do with the support. It's not ideal to be here,' says passenger after collision

Ben Kelly
Friday 25 May 2018 10:11 BST
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Two planes collide at London's Stansted airport

A plane carrying dozens of Irish voters home for the country's abortion referendum has been struck by another passenger jet on the runway at Stansted.

The FR205 Ryanair flight to Dublin was waiting for permission to take off when it was shunted from behind by a Primera flight to Malaga taxiing behind it. No injuries were reported.

Cabin crew quickly confirmed to those on board that the aircraft had been hit and that all passengers would have to be evacuated.

Three fire engines quickly appeared on the scene, seemingly as a precaution, although there appeared to be no sign of danger.

Staff from the Independent who were on the flight say the mood remained calm, even jovial.

The back doors of the plane could not be opened, so passengers were gradually evacuated from the back of the plane up to the front door "to avoid tipping issues", according to cabin crew.

A large number of those on board were travelling to Ireland to vote in today's referendum on repealing the country's eighth amendment, which effectively criminalises abortion.

Around 25 passengers were wearing jumpers bearing the 'Repeal' slogan.

Genevieve Hulme Beaman, aged 29, from Dublin, was among those on the flight.

"My whole reason to get home is to vote, so as long as I get home to vote it's fine," she told The Independent.

"You can vote until 10pm. I wanted to be there to support the women there, I have a lot of friends who are very emotional today and they could do with the support. It's not ideal to be here. I booked this early flight to be there for the whole day."

Grainne Maguire, a 34-year-old from Navan, told The Independent: "I actually don't have a vote but I was really looking forward to getting home to canvass, and annoy anti-choice people by walking around in a Repeal jumper looking confident."

One of the passengers, Malena McQuarrie, 23, from Dublin, said: "I'm extremely annoyed, but I hope we're going to get home in time to vote.

"Luckily I live by the airport so it's not so bad for me but some people have to go far into the country. A girl in front of me was saying she has to fly back tonight."

Passengers on the Ryanair flight were waiting to be put on another flight, while Primera said a substitute aircraft would be sent to Stansted to take passengers to Malaga. It said they would be delayed by around eight hours in total.

A statement from Ryanair said: “One of our aircraft was stationary at the designated holding point on the taxiway at London Stansted Airport this morning when the winglet of a Primera Air aircraft taxiing behind scraped its tail stabiliser.

"Both aircraft were under the instruction of London Stansted Air Traffic Control at the time. The Ryanair aircraft returned to stand to be inspected by Ryanair engineers. To minimise delay, customers will transfer to a replacement aircraft later this morning.”

A Primera statement said: "A substitute aircraft will be sent to Stansted airport to perform the affected flights and carry passengers to their destinations. Meanwhile, all passengers will be offered assistance by a handling agent.

"At the moment the expected delay for the flight to Malaga is about eight hours. Further information will be provided as soon as possible."

Stansted said in a statement: “Following a minor airfield incident at approximately 09.15, two aircraft due to depart were required to return to stand.

"No injuries have been reported and no evacuation was required from either aircraft. As a precaution airfield operations were briefly suspended but all flights have now resumed.”

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