Torrential rain caused chaos at Aberdeen Airport last night after a hole opened up in the runway.
Relentless downpours forced the closure of the landing strip just after 5pm, with no arrivals or departures and all planes bound for the city diverted to other airports.
Officials said they had lost about 20 arriving flights and 15 departing flights as a result.
Last night, the airport’s managing director Carol Benzie said she believed the horrendous weather was to blame.
“Due to unprecedented excessive rainfall, a very small section of tarmac at the top north end of the runway has been damaged, and as a safety precaution, we have promulgated a shorter available runway length than normal for departing flights, and have cancelled any further arrivals this evening,” she said.
“A repair is underway, and weather permitting, we anticipate full operations being available by tomorrow morning.
“We would advise any travelling passengers to check with their airline before attempting to travel to the airport, particularly with the current treacherous road conditions.”
By 7pm departure flights could leave Aberdeen on the shortened runway measuring 1,591 metres.
Just hours before the runway was closed, a plane had to make an emergency landing shortly after departing.
The Eastern Airways flight T34717 left Aberdeen Airport for Leeds, but was forced to return to base after declaring an emergency 15 minutes into the flight.
Three fire crews were sent to the airport, but their support was not required. The aircraft safely landed at 4.37pm.
A spokesman for Eastern Airways said: “The captain operating this afternoon’s T3 4717 flight from Aberdeen to Leeds Bradford made a precautionary return to Aberdeen, after receiving an abnormal right hand engine oil temperature indication during flight. The engine was not shutdown in flight.
“The Jetstream 41 with 9 passengers and three crew on board landed safely in Aberdeen at 4.37pm.
“The airport fire service was initially put on standby, but was stood down on arrival.
“Our engineers will be carrying out an inspection of the aircraft.
“Passengers are being transferred to another aircraft to take them to their destination.”