EasyJet plane skids off runway moments after landing

A generic picture of an EasyJet plane at Keflavik Airport (Picture: Getty)

A passenger plane skidded off the runway after landing in Iceland amid a cold snap on Sunday.

The easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Keflavik touched down safely and was able to slow down to taxying speed.

But it then veered off the taxiway and came to a stop with its nose over a grass verge.

Passengers were able to get off, but the jet has been taken out of service.

A replacement jet has been scrambled in time for the return journey, while an investigation into the incident has been launched.

EasyJet blamed weather conditions for the incident but declined to provide any specifics.

Sunday saw temperatures plunge to -5°C in Keflavik following rain earlier in the weekend, so it’s likely the ground in the area was icy.

Airports cannot use normal road grit on their runways as it can damage jet engines, instead using chemical sprays to try and prevent ice from building up.

A spokesperson for easyJet said: ‘We can confirm that flight EZY8843 from London Gatwick to Keflavik on 14 January went off the taxiway when taxying to its stand at low speed. All passengers disembarked normally.

‘We did all possible to minimise the delay for passengers due to return to the UK and arranged for a replacement aircraft to operate the flight back to London Gatwick.

‘We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused.’

The government has confirmed it’s still safe to travel to Iceland following the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik, roughly 20 kilometres away from Keflavik.

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