A hole in runway 05L/23R at Manchester Airport led to a closure lasting about two hours on 19 September 2026, disrupting scheduled flights. The runway has since reopened, but delays persist.
Flight Diversions to Liverpool and Stansted
Three incoming flights to Manchester from Antalya, Pisa, and Rhodes were diverted to Liverpool Airport during the disruption. These flights were XQ592 from Antalya, LS884 from Pisa, and LS802 from Rhodes. Additionally, Pegasus Airlines flight PC7281 from İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport was rerouted to Stansted Airport due to the runway closure.
Current Delays and Passenger Advisories
According to data from travel service Inrix, flights departing Manchester Airport experience average delays of 50 minutes. Passengers
scheduled to fly from Manchester are advised to verify their flight status before arriving at the airport to account for ongoing delays caused by the runway defect.
Background on Previous Runway Hole Incident
This runway hole incident follows a similar event on 31 August 2026 at the Delta Zulu crossing point within Manchester Airport. That earlier occurrence resulted in prolonged major disruption and delayed numerous flights during the August bank holiday weekend.
Official Statements from Airport and Airline
An airport spokesperson told The Independent: “One of our runways closed for a short period today to allow routine maintenance to take place.” Pegasus Airlines said in a statement regarding flight PC7281: “We would
like to inform you that our flight, PC7281 İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen – Manchester flight has been diverted to Stansted Airport due to Manchester Airport’s closure. We strive to ensure that to minimize the effects of the mentioned delays; and in this regard, a new flight will be scheduled.”
Traveler Impact and Airline Response
Passengers on the three diverted flights had to land at Liverpool instead of Manchester, causing route changes and inconvenience. Pegasus Airlines responded by scheduling a replacement flight to compensate for the delay caused by the diversion of PC7281 to Stansted.
