Holidaymakers 'gasped' as jet skidded off Leeds Bradford Airport runway

The jet was left sitting in mud

A passenger has told of her shock after a holiday jet skidded off a runway as it landed at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Nicola Lewellen, 45, was on board the TUI flight from Corfu as it touched down in the UK during Storm Babet.

She said passengers "gasped" as the aircraft veered off the runway, churning mud onto its windows. All passengers and crew were evacuated.

Travel firm TUI apologised after the incident forced the closure of the airport on Friday.

Ms Lewellen, from Bradford, told the BBC the pilot had warned passengers to "expect some bumpiness" during the flight and landing.

She said "it all seemed absolutely fine and normal" until the plane braked on the runway and skidded on the wet surface.

"I liken it to if you're driving along and you aquaplane a bit and you kind of take your foot off the brake," Ms Lewellen said.

"Suddenly there was just loads of mud that hit the windows, which was a bit of a shock."

Ms Lewellen said there had been a "collective gasp of shock" from passengers but "no screaming".

"I turned to my other half and felt like I was going to tear up. I was like, wow, that was quite something," she added.

The plane's wings and windows were left covered in mud

Ms Lewellen, who had been travelling home from a week-long holiday with her partner, said the jet's pilot asked passengers to remain seated while crews carried out safety checks.

They were able to leave the aircraft by a stairway about 90 minutes after landing.

The airport remained closed until the following day as crews worked to recover the aircraft.

Firefighters were called to the scene

Despite the dramatic end to her holiday, Ms Lewellen said she would have no qualms about flying again.

The public sector worker said: "Colleagues have asked me since, 'Would you fly again?' And I'm like, absolutely. The way they handled it I was actually more reassured of flying in the future."

TUI said it was assisting the Air Accidents Investigation Branch with an inquiry into the incident.