AIRCRAFT have had to abort their landings at Cornwall Airport Newquay after a car fire sent thick black smoke billowing across the runway on Friday afternoon (August 15).

One plane was seen to touch down and take off again after a vehicle fire occurred in the west car park shortly before 4pm.

Eyewitness Andy Barrett said: “There was a fire near some hangars and thick black smoke has been drifting towards the runway. A plane came into land and aborted. It looked like one plane touched down and went up again. It was touch and go.

“Then another aircraft came into land. At least a couple of aircraft went into a holding pattern and were circling the airport.”

A spokesperson for Cornwall Airport Newquay said: “Earlier today, a vehicle fire occurred in the West Car Park at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured. An arriving aircraft was briefly placed in a holding pattern as a precaution. Both matters have been resolved and there is no impact to airport operations.”