Chaos at Milan Bergamo after Ryanair tyres explode upon landing

Milan Bergamo airport – also known as Orio al Serio and serving the Italian city of Bergamo – is in chaos. It follows an incident involving a Ryanair flight arriving from Barcelona El Prat.

The plane was landing at 07.55 am local time when the four tyres of the rear undercarriage burst, leaving it stuck on the runway.

The damage however did not affect the landing maneuver or cause any particular problems on board, airport authorities said.

Milan Bergamo airport: Where are flights diverted to and when will the airport reopen?

Airport authorities have issued the following statement:

“SACBO [the company that manages the airport] advises that due to an aircraft grounded on the runway due to technical problems, operations are suspended,” the statement read. “Departing flights are delayed and arriving flights may be diverted or cancelled until reopened.”

The airport’s website shows all flights until midnight tonight (Tuesday 1 October) as either delayed, cancelled or diverted. Check your flight’s status here.

Some departing flights appear to be delayed until 2pm local time, implying the airport hopes to be operational by this time.

If you are due to fly into or out of Bergamo airport, it is best to check your flight’s status before heading to the airport.

Where are Bergamo flights being diverted to?

Bergamo is a city and province 1-hour’s drive north-east of Milan.

The nearest airports to Bergamo Orio Al Serio are Verona, a 1 hour 10 minute drive away, and Milan Malpensa, a 1-hour drive away.

Airlines are required by law to transport passengers to their final destination but it is not yet clear how they are making sure passengers get to their final destination of Bergamo.

What happened with the Ryanair flight?

SACBO said the Ryanair flight arrived from Barcelona El Prat at 07.55 local time.

Firefighters arrived shortly after and evacuated all 161 passengers and the crew. No one was injured.

“The tyre blowout caused 450 meters of damage to the runway,” said SACBO.

Urgent reparation works are being carried out as the damage nicked the pavement to a depth “of about one centimetre”.

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“The reopening of the runway is subjected to the removal of the aircraft and the completion of the restoration work”.

It is unlikely the runway will reopen before 5pm local time, added the Milan Bergamo airport authorities.