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Some early Belfast flights cancelled over fog

Matthew Poole One of the two Harland and Wolff cranes which dominate the Belfast skyline is obscured by fog on Thursday. Only a dark outline of the crane is visible because of the thick blanket of fog across the docks area of the city. The sun is in the background illuminating the crane.Matthew Poole
One of the Harland and Wolff cranes pictured in the fog in Belfast on Thursday

Flights are returning to normal at Belfast City Airport after several hours of disruption caused by freezing fog.

A yellow weather warning for fog came into force on Wednesday afternoon which led to flight cancellations and some diversions from the airport.

The passengers affected included Mid and East Antrim councillor Andrew Wilson, whose flight from Cardiff to Belfast was diverted to Cork on Wednesday evening.

From his arrival in the airport, it took him 14 hours to get home to Carrickfergus.

"We could have flown to the USA in a shorter length of time," he told BBC News NI.

Mr Wilson had travelled to Cardiff on business and was due to fly back to Belfast with Aer Lingus at noon on Wednesday.

He arrived at Cardiff Airport at about 10:00 GMT but it was quickly confirmed that the flight would be delayed due to the fog.

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) councillor contacted family members at home in Carrickfergus who told him that "visibility was pretty poor" in County Antrim.

"They were concerned that we wouldn't be able to land," he said.

Andrew Wilson Selfie taken by Andrew Wilson in Cardiff. He has short, fair hair and is wearing a blue t-shirt. There is a waterway behind him, lined by tall buildings.Andrew Wilson
Councillor Andrew Wilson sightseeing in Cardiff before his diversion to Cork Airport

His delayed plane finally took off at about 15:00 GMT but about an hour into the flight, there was a message from the pilots explaining that conditions had deteriorated in Belfast and the aircraft would have to divert.

Mr Wilson explained that passengers were told that there were no landing slots available at Belfast International Airport and Dublin had filled up as well.

"I don’t think anyone expected that we would end up in Cork," he said.

He added that he had never been to the city before, and had "never really been south of Dublin".

Aer Lingus organised buses to take the passengers back to Belfast and Mr Wilson arrived home in Carrickfergus a few minutes after midnight.

However, he said the long journey was much more challenging for a couple who were travelling with their four-year-old child.

"At the end of the day, I think we’re all thankful that they got us home," he added.

Andrew Wilson An aerial view over the east coast of Ireland taken from a plane by Andrew Wilson. It shows a sparsely lit coastal area, a river channel and city lights in the background.Andrew Wilson
Mr Wilson took this photo as his plane flew in over the east coast of Ireland

The fog lingered into Thursday morning, affecting seven early-morning flights from Belfast City Airport, which had been cancelled the evening before.

One flight to Amsterdam, which had been due to leave the airport at 06:30, was rescheduled to take off at 08:00.

The yellow fog warning, which came into force on Wednesday afternoon, expired at 08:00.

However, drivers have been warned of difficult driving conditions.