A plane sank into tarmac while waiting on the runway at City of Derry Airport yesterday, it has emerged.
Passengers on board the flight from Salou, Spain, were driven away, and the jet was eventually freed.
Earlier this year, the airport was closed by the Civil Aviation Authority over safety concerns, including runway subsidence.
The inbound service, carrying 180 passengers, had been sitting on a remote runway for 30 minutes after landing because of other traffic at the airport. Passengers on the outbound flight to Salou were delayed for a short period.
MLA Raymond McCartney said: "If Derry is to have a first-class airport, then these type of incidents are something which we need to avoid."
He said the mishaps should not be used as the sole basis for an argument surrounding privatisation of the council-owned facility.