Passengers described their terror yesterday after the plane they were travelling in slammed back onto land in the middle of take-off then careered off the runway.
The aircraft with 29 people on board veered wildly to the left before skidding off the tarmac and bogging down in the grass.
Witnesses said the aircrew accelerated twice on the runway as they tried to achieve lift off, and one passenger said the rear of the plane appeared to be moving about “as if on ice”.
Four people were injured in the terrifying incident at Stornoway Airport and an investigation has been launched.
Locals suspect strong crosswinds may have been a factor. The islands were battered by high winds all day yesterday, causing ferry disruption.
The Met Office would not comment on conditions at the time of the plane incident as this will form part of the inquiry.
Forecasters also warned more bad weather is on the way. The Met Office has issued a yellow “be aware” warning for ice across the north and north-east this morning and several inches of snow could fall on higher ground in the Highlands and islands.
Flights were restricted in and out of Stornoway Airport after yesterday morning’s accident.
The twin-engined propeller-driven Saab 340 bound for Glasgow, was trying to take off at around 8.30am when it was apparently blown off the tarmac.
A full-scale emergency was declared involving the airport firefighters, two crews from Stornoway, as well as police and ambulance.
A total of three crew and 25 passengers, plus an infant, were on board the flight, which is operated by Loganair for Flybe. The aircraft can seat 34 passengers.
Four passengers suffered minor injuries. Two men were taken by ambulance to Western Isles Hospital for treatment, while two women declined assistance.
Passenger Mairi Maciver, of Uig on Lewis, described her horror when the plane suddenly hit back onto the runway.
The Paisley based nurse practitioner said: “I think the plane was off the ground when it just hit back down again. It then veered off to the left and I thought it was just going onto another runway but then we heard bang, bang, bang. The seat beside me came down with a bang and the stewardess told us to stay in seats.
“Then there was a smell of fuel. I got quite frightened then. I was scared the plane was going to go on fire. But there was a man at the emergency exit who helped us. He broke through the emergency exit and helped us all out onto the wing. The response from the Stornoway Airport fire crews was great and they were there before I had even got off the wing.”
Miss Maciver said she felt very strongly about how well everyone helped the passengers.
She added: “It was a very slick operation. They should get something for that.”
Another passenger who did not wish to be named, suffered cuts and grazes to her legs and was recovering at home with her family.
She thought the plane was off the ground and said it had been a “really scary experience”.
Air Accident Investigation Branch inspectors arrived on Lewis yesterday afternoon to start their inquiries.
It is unclear whether the aircraft was completely airborne or whether only the nose wheel had lifted off.
The rotors were left half-hidden in the long grass and the bodywork to the rear was also splattered with mud.
The stricken aircraft remained beside the runway yesterday, but the airport was able to partially re-open using its second runway.
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd said the plane would not be moved until air accident investigators have concluded their inquiries, possibly later today.
A return journey from Aberdeen to Stornoway and a flight to Edinburgh were cancelled.