Passengers were stranded at Belfast International Airport Sunday after a de-icing truck collided with an EasyJet plane causing their flight to be cancelled. The incident occurred when the aircraft was being de-iced before taking off on a flight to Amsterdam, having been delayed for two hours already.
As is standard practise, police and fire crews were alerted.
Among the passengers stranded at Belfast were 34 teenage female footballers and IFA officials heading to Rotterdam to participate in the European Under-14 and Under 17 training camp events.
Head Coach Alfie Wylie was still at the airport as late as 10.30pm, ensuring the young soccer girls got home safely.
The airline said: "EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY6773 from Belfast to Amsterdam on November 20 was cancelled due to a technical issue resulting from an airport vehicle accidentally hitting the aircraft during boarding.
"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always EasyJet's highest priority.
"The Captain kept the passengers informed and they were given the option of being rebooked onto the next available flight or obtain a refund.
"EasyJet offered meals and hotel accommodation to passengers requiring them. EasyJet would like to apologise to all passengers for any inconvenience caused."
At Heathrow, a large fire engulfed a garden centre nearby, causing panic that the fire would affect Heathrow airport activities. Fire-fighters successfully tackled the inferno at Ansell Garden Centre on Holloway, Sipson, which is a family run business just north of the Airport. The crew had to put up a 1,000 ft. cordon to prevent an explosion upon discovering cylinders and fireworks on site.
Luckily, no one was injured and Heathrow flights were not affected. The cause of the fire is yet to be established.