Virgin plane diverts to Manchester due to air traffic control issues in Iceland
A Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow to Seattle was diverted to Manchester Airport for refueling due to air traffic control restrictions in Iceland. The plane was observed flying unusually low over Shaw, Oldham, with its landing gear deployed before final approach. The flight landed in Manchester around 5 pm and departed for Seattle by 6 pm. Virgin Atlantic apologized for the inconvenience, citing safety as their top priority. Icelandic air traffic control issues have been resolved, allowing normal operations to resume.
Virgin Atlantic flight VS105 from London Heathrow to Seattle made an unscheduled landing at Manchester Airport on Friday afternoon due to air traffic control restrictions affecting transatlantic routes.
The Boeing 787, carrying passengers bound for the American west coast, touched down at Manchester shortly before 5pm after being spotted flying “low” over Shaw in Oldham with its landing gear deployed while still airborne - an unusual sight that prompted concerned calls from residents.
The diversion was necessitated by air traffic control system issues in Iceland that forced multiple Atlantic-bound aircraft to reroute for refuelling stops. The aircraft departed Manchester for Seattle just before 6pm after taking on additional fuel.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed: “The VS105 from London Heathrow to Seattle on 25 July has diverted to Manchester Airport to refuel due to air traffic control restrictions. The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority and our teams are working hard to ensure our customers can continue on their journey as soon as possible. We sincerely apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused.”
The Icelandic air traffic control system, which manages a significant portion of North Atlantic air traffic, has since been restored to full operation, allowing normal flight paths to resume.
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