Runway at Southwest Florida International Airport Reopens After Charter Plane Incident, Delays Persist

Runway at Southwest Florida International Airport Reopens After Charter Plane Incident

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The runway at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) has reopened following an emergency involving an Eastern Airways charter flight that went off the runway on Saturday. While the runway is now operational, travelers are still experiencing significant delays.

Emergency crews swiftly responded to the incident, which involved a flight inbound from Cuba. Fortunately, the Lee County Port Authority (LCPA) reported no injuries or fire as a result of the situation.

Passengers reported to Gulf Coast News that some flights have faced delays of up to two hours, while others have been diverted to alternate airports. The LCPA has indicated that the duration of the delays will depend on the time required for safety checks to be completed.

Currently, passengers from the affected flight are being assisted off the plane, and no mutual aid was necessary for the response. The aircraft will either be towed or will taxi off the runway under its own power.

As operations resume, travelers are encouraged to check for the latest departure and arrival times at RSW.

This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.

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