AMSTERDAM- A Scottish passenger, Sarah Crawford, recounted her experience as a ‘brake fault’ prompted her KLM (KL) flight destined for Edinburgh to undergo a dramatic emergency diversion to Prestwick Airport (PIK).
Crawford was on board the Cityhopper service from Amsterdam (AMS) to Edinburgh (EDI), scheduled to land around 12:08 pm. However, an electrical fault emerged as they were preparing to land, leading the plane to change course southward to the travel hub in Ayrshire, Prestwick Airport.
KLM Emergency Landing at Prestwick
Upon its arrival, emergency services swiftly responded, with specialist airport fire crews converging around the aircraft on the Prestwick tarmac.
Sarah, 39, and her husband Joe Crawford, 69, were returning from New York when they experienced a mid-air incident that led to an unexpected landing 94 miles away from their Kirkcaldy home, reported Daily Record.
The couple, initially on a normal flight, faced a surprising turn of events when the captain instructed the cabin crew to prepare for landing. Shortly afterward, an announcement revealed a technical issue, specifically an electrical failure.
The only feasible option, as conveyed to the passengers, was to divert the flight to Prestwick Airport.
Electrical Failure
It wasn’t until the landing at Prestwick that the nature of the problem was disclosed. The aircraft experienced an electrical failure in the phase controlling the brakes, necessitating a landing on the emergency brakes.
The explanation given was that the plane required 2500m to land, and as Edinburgh Airport’s runway is only 2400m, Prestwick’s longer runway of 4000m was chosen for the landing.
Sarah commended the calm and composed demeanor of the cabin crew and pilots throughout the ordeal.
She further commented, “The experience wasn’t any different from any other time I’ve flown. It was a standard landing. The crew remained composed and provided reassurance, which kept the entire plane calm. Landing a plane without brakes couldn’t have been easy, so our gratitude to the pilots is immeasurable. Upon disembarking, we observed fire engines arriving at the plane. They took some time to thoroughly inspect everything, ensuring there was no excessive heat from the brakes.”
Travelers were directed through the airport, and subsequently, buses were available to transport them to Edinburgh.
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