POLICE have launched an investigation after more than 20 passengers were hurt when a bus crashed into a perimeter fence near Glasgow Airport.
Roads were blocked and traffic queued as emergency services dealt with the accident on the A726 Barnsford Road between Inchinnan and Paisley.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said no-one was seriously injured, but 22 people were taken to hospital.
Ten people were rushed to the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, and 12 were taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley.
The light blue vehicle crashed through the airport’s perimeter fence at about 7.30am yesterday, and the road was closed in both directions between the M8 junction and Red Smiddy Roundabout to clear debris.
Ambulance crews treated passengers – said to be “walking wounded” – at the scene. There were no reports of serious injuries.
The bus, a number 19 service from Bridge of Weir operated by Barrhead-based Riverside Transport, had careered though the airport fence. Damage was visible with poles and handrails strewn across the vehicle and window panes appeared cracked and smashed.
The 51-year-old female driver was among those taken to hospital and was said to be in shock.
Police who placed a tape cordon around the bus said investigations were continuing into how the accident happened.
A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: “The bus appears to have lost control and crashed into the perimeter fence of the airport.
“No-one appears to be seriously injured.”
Passengers reported that there was some screaming as the bus ended up perched upright in a field.
One passenger said: “I got a bit of a fright and there was a bit of screaming but thankfully I was okay.
“Other people who got into the ambulance looked a bit bewildered more than anything else.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said no-one was seriously injured, but everyone involved was taken to hospital to be checked over.
The spokesman said: “We took 12 people to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and 10 others were taken to the Southern General.
“There were multiple resources on the scene but no-one was seriously hurt – all of the casualties were walking wounded. It was mostly bumps and scrapes, but they are being checked over.
“Six ambulances travelled to the two hospitals, taking multiple casualties in each.”
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said that its operations and flights had not been affected.
He said “We were alerted to the incident at around 7.30 this morning when a bus appeared to go through the perimeter fence.
“It was near an area used for training and did not have any impact on our operations.
“Once the vehicle has been towed away our maintenance teams will be on site to repair any damage caused.”
Riverside Transport, which has served Paisley and the surrounding area for more than 15 years, was yesterday still waiting for news on what happened.
Director Mark Cowden said: “We have been told that there are no serious injuries and our driver is among those taken to hospital.
“We have a representative at the hospital in Paisley.
“We do not know what happened as we haven’t had an opportunity to speak to either our driver or any of the passengers yet.
“The vehicle has been taken away, but services will still run on the route.”
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