TEESSIDE AIRPORT NEWS - 07/01/2010

Man cautioned at Durham Tees Valley Airport after disruption anger

By James Wilson.

A man has been arrested at Durham Tees Valley Airport for using threatening behaviour toward flight staff.

Police were called to the airport when passengers on a delayed service to Alicante became disruptive after they were not allowed to leave the aircraft for two and a half hours due to ice on the runway.

The flight had already been diverted from Leeds Bradford Airport.

A 39-year-old Hartlepool man was taken to Darlington police station and cautioned after he became aggressive towards staff due to the delay.

Speaking to the press, a police spokesman said: "Apparently passengers were not allowed off because the apron was sheet ice and dangerous.

"The arrested man's concerns were genuine, but his behaviour was unacceptable."

The pilot of the flight initially planned to fly north to Newcastle before leaving for Alicante, but ultimately allowed passengers to disembark at Durham after the disruption.

Durham Tees Valley Airport served over 670,000 passengers in 2008.

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