PASSENGERS on a flight that skidded off a runway during Storm Babet thought they were goners when the brakes failed.
Malcolm Fell was jetting home from Corfu after a cruise with wife Marion, 70, as rain lashed down at Leeds Bradford Airport.
Malcolm Fell and wife Marion thought they were going to die when their TUI flight skidded off the runway at Leeds Bradford AirportSupplied
XThe jet aquaplaned along the runway before ploughing into the boggy verge[/caption]
@cat_cutmoreThe Boeing 737-800 ploughed into the boggy verge and splattered the wings in mud[/caption]
She warned him to brace as the TUI jet aquaplaned along the runway and told him: “We’re not going to make this one”.
Malcolm, 71, told The Sun: “It was terrifying – it scared the muck out of everybody.
“The aircraft just aquaplaned down the runway because there was so much standing water.
“The brakes didn’t appear to be doing anything.
“There wasn’t much runway left and I think the pilot made the decision to veer into the grass.”
The Boeing 737-800 ploughed into the boggy verge, splattering the wings in mud, before skidding to a halt on Friday afternoon.
“The ground was so soft it just buried the plane”, Malcolm, from Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, said.
But the retiree told how passengers on the flight remained “very, very calm”.
He added: “We are regular flyers but this was but for the grace of God stuff.
“It was the scariest moment we’ve ever had, without a shadow of a doubt.”
Storm Babet has claimed three lives since Friday, as “unprecedented” rain saw entire towns evacuated.
John Gillan, a 56-year-old dad, died when a tree struck his vehicle in Angus, Scotland on Friday.
On Thursday, cops confirmed the body of a woman, 57, had been recovered from a river also in Angus – where a red weather alert is in place.
And a man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water in Cloebury Mortimer, Shropshire, on Friday.
It comes as 30 people were rescued from their homes in the Brampton area of Chesterfield, Derbyshire amid the storm.
The River Hipper’s water began rising at around 8am, locals told the BBC, and could threaten 400 properties in the town.
But Brits have been warned the “worst impacts are yet to come” as officials urged people to take care amid the torrential downpours.
A red weather warning for rain remains in place in eastern Scotland for 24-hours, staring at 12am on Saturday.
A TUI UK&I spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise to all those impacted by the closure of Leeds Bradford Airport on Friday 20th October following an incident that took place shortly after landing on TOM3551 from Corfu.
“The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we can confirm there were no reported injuries, with all passengers disembarking the aircraft via the steps.
“All bags have now been removed from the aeroplane and our teams are on hand to support customers with their onward journey, and we will continue to offer any support as required.
“TUI customers due to depart on their holiday today will now be taken to Manchester Airport, where an aircraft is ready to take them on holiday as planned. Customers due to travel tomorrow will be contacted directly, with flights still planned to take place.
“TUI Airways is now fully assisting the AAIB with their investigation.”
John Gillan, a 56-year-old dad, died when a tree struck his vehicle in Angus, Scotland on Friday
SuppliedPassengers on a flight that skidded off a runway during Storm Babet thought they would die when the brakes failed[/caption]
Lesley MartinFlood waters surround cars and houses along Heron Rise, Dundee[/caption]
Twitter / @AberdeenshireCouncilA red weather warning has been extended in Scotland until 11.59pm on Saturday[/caption]
ReutersEmergency services assist in the evacuation of a family from their home in Brechin[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
