Flights were diverted to Cardiff Airport after a technical issue shut the runway at Bristol. The English airport was forced to halt all flights on Wednesday (January 25) after its runway lights failed.

The technical issue prevented any planes from landing or taking off. Engineers on site frantically tried to find a solution after the runway lights failed, leaving it in the dark. Bristol Airport has apologised for the problem.

The incident led to dozens of passengers being left stuck on planes. Rhys Griffiths, an EasyJet passenger from Swansea flying into Bristol, said the plane he was on had to be diverted to Cardiff.

"We're flying back from Toulouse, having flown there from Lisbon this morning," he told BristolLive. "Some people managed to get off and have gone home from Cardiff, plane is just a bit frustrated of course, but nothing special."

He added that he was actually due to be heading back to Swansea, but needed to pick his car up from Bristol. Eventually, passengers on board Rhys' plane were told they would hopefully get back to Bristol this evening.

Rhys said: "We've been told they'll either refuel the plane and fly us back when they can get a slot, which I think was about 11pm, and if not, they said they'll get the buses but there aren't any available in Cardiff so it'll take while again. We're refuelling now, captain just told us they hope to take off in the next 15 minutes."

Passengers caught up in the chaos were urged to contact their airline for more information. The runway reopened at around 9.45pm, but disruption continued into the evening, and there were warnings for passengers to check with their airline.

A statement from the airport late on Wednesday said: ""Our runway has now reopened, allowing flights to land and take-off. There may be knock-on disruption - passengers should contact their airline for information.

"We're very sorry for the disruption. Engineers will be working through the night to fix the fault fully."

Read next:

'Cardiff Airport probably won't exist in five years', claims former owner Sir Stanley Thomas

School criticised for planning Abu Dhabi trip costing 拢2,500 per pupil

'Van driver smashed into my car and just drove off'

'Devastated' Ieuan Evans orders external taskforce to clean up WRU