http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6379213.stm
The above links to a BBC report concerning the easyJet flight from BFS to BRS last night.
It circled before landing and an MP on board asserts that pax were told the reason was the wet runway condition.
The MP told the press, ".........then the captain came on and said 'you've obviously heard about the difficulties they've had in Bristol. We've been advised it wouldn't be safe to land if it's too wet and as there's been a bit of a very heavy downpour, we can't land just yet as we have to wait for the runway to dry off.' "
This story was given the main lead on the Bristol BBC and ITV local televison news shows this evening.
The MP was interviewed live at his home and maintained his story despite rebuttals from the airport and airline who say the aircraft circled before landing because of strong winds and rain. easyJet suggested the MP may have misunderstood what was said by the captain.
In one of the local tv interviews the MP said he believed this showed the runway was not safe and pax lives may be being put in danger.
One of the tv interviewers said that easyJet had cautioned the MP to be very careful about what he was saying.
BBC Bristol Tv News said another pax had contacted them to support the MP's version of what the pax were told by the pilot.
Seems odd because since the airport re-opened there have been a number of days when it has rained hard and,
AFAIK, this has not prevented any aircraft landing. Obviously, strong cross winds are a different matter.
Some of the local Conservative MPs are against expansion and I don't know whether this Tory MP has joined the bandwaggon on the day when the airport's master plan is being debated by the local authority, amidst a groundswell of opposition from a consortium of disparate groups.
However, I would be very surprised if even an MP would go so far as to issue blatant lies in this manner.