Manchester Airport is suffering widespread delays due to a “hole in the runway”, according to reports.
Disruption on one of the runways lasted around two hours after a hole appeared, Aviation News UK reported in a post on X, adding that “high delays” were being reported with delays expected to last until the evening.
Three Manchester-bound flights, from Antalya, Lisa and Rhodes, were diverted to Liverpool as a result of the disruption, it reported.
“The runway has since reopened, but knock-on delays remain at Manchester,” the outlet said. “This follows a separate reported hole at the Delta Zulu crossing point on 31 August, when the runway was also affected for many hours.”
The Delta Zulu crossing point is a runway intersection at Manchester Airport that was the cause of a major disruption over the August bank holiday weekend.
🚨Manchester Airport Update
— Aviation News UK (@AviationNews_UK) September 19, 2026
Runway 05L/23R has now reopened after being affected by a runway defect for around two hours.
Three Manchester-bound flights diverted to Liverpool (LPL):
✈️ XQ592 From Antalya
✈️ LS884 From Pisa
✈️ LS802 From Rhodes
The runway has since… https://t.co/Po10tHZgSG
Travel service Inrix reports: “Flights to and from Manchester Airport are currently delayed due to the hole in the runway. Real time data indicate flights that are currently due to depart from the Airport are delayed on average by fifty minutes. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights before they travel to the Airport.”
An airport spokesperson told The Independent: "One of our runways closed for a short period today to allow routine maintenance to take place."
Taking to X, one traveller asked: “What on earth is going on with flight pc 7281 from Istanbul today Manchester. It has landed in Stansted and people on board are growing concerned as we speak.”
Pegasus Airlines replied: “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.”
