One man onboard the Loganair Glasgow-
Another traveller said: “The pilot had tried twice to take off. Two times, the plane was going at full throttle on the runway and I could feel the back end sliding about.
Passenger Murdo Macaskill described it like a car sliding about on a icy road.
When the plane speed off the runway there was a stunned silence, he said.
“Nobody said anything for a while. Then people started asking others if they were all OK.
“The stewardess told people to sit down.
We were told not to unfasten our seatbelts as the propellers were still rotating and the safety signs were still on.”
“It was all quite calm, really.”
Another passenger believed it was not too windy at the time.
With the plane apparently listing on her starboard side, passengers were advised to wait in their seats until the propellers stopped and assistance came.
They then got off through the emergency exits and sliding down the wing of the plane which is branded in Flybe colours.
Passengers then walked over the grass to reach the runway before making their way into the terminal building.
Ambulances and police sped to the airport and the main road on the flight path was shut to traffic for a period.
Stornoway airport was closed for hours afterwards with a police roadblock at the Melbost approach road.
Only relatives of affected passengers were allowed through.
A long tailback of travellers booked on other flights stretched back for a distance with many unaware of the incident.
Police could not confirm if a strong gust or crosswind blew the plane onto the grass.
It is unclear if its nosegear collapsed on impact with the rough grass.
Police said it was too early to comment on the cause of the accident.
Plane slid as if on ice, say passengers
2 January 2015