FLIGHTS are expected to be up and running as normal from East Midlands Airport, after thousands were left stranded when a cargo plane crashed.
The wheels of the Boeing 737-400 Freighter failed shortly after the aircraft touched down at 2.30am yesterday.
There were only two people onboard the plane which was left stranded on the runway for most of yesterday.
Although no one was injured, more than 45 flights were cancelled – affecting at least 9,000 passengers. The airport was expected to reopen late last night.
Fashion consultant Steve Osborne, 59, of West Bridgford, said: "We have been waiting for five and a half hours.
"We are now going to Manchester but we have to get there on our own steam. We are not very happy because we are tired and hungry and now cannot find a taxi. They were handing out water, which was of little comfort really."
The plane was flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to East Midlands Airport with ten tonnes of cargo.
The two crew members involved, a 39-year-old captain from the Netherlands who has 4,500 flight hours, and the 38-year-old Irish first officer who has 3,900 flight hours, were unhurt.
However, not everyone was aware of the situation before arriving at the airport.
Psychology student Ausrele Galminaite, 21, of Radford Boulevard, Nottingham, said: "I did not know that everything was cancelled until I got here and I am now not sure what I am going to do.
"It is a big shock and I was meant to be going to Barcelona as a present for my birthday."
The aircraft was built in 1990 and had passed a maintenance check at the weekend.
Finance and accounting student Zydrune Kripaityte, 25, of Nottingham, said: "We have not been told anything at all and I think everything has been badly organised.
"It is a good thing we are from Nottingham because it is not too far but I feel sorry for those that have travelled a long way and now have to go back home or to another airport."
All inbound flights were diverted to other airports.
Andrew Harrison, the son of Elaine Harrison, whose body was found at the start of the month after a four-month search, was taking a break in Murcia, Spain, before her funeral on Thursday.
The 33-year-old, of Clifton, said: "I came out here at the last minute because of the stress I have been through over the last few months – I was at breaking point.
"I have to get back home for the funeral arrangements. The nearer it was getting to check in the more worried I was getting but I have had my flight re-routed to Birmingham.
"Before I was told I was massively worried because I did not know what is going on. I know they can't tell us much but I would have expected something at least once an hour."
The Air Accident Investigation Branch will release a report in the coming weeks.
The plane was being used by aircraft operator Air Contractors. A spokesman said: "Air Contractors is sorry to see the inconvenience caused to passengers travelling to and from East Midlands Airport this morning whose travel plans have been disrupted."
