Three people have been taken to hospital after a crash near Newcastle Airport.
Emergency services rushed to the A696 southbound close to the airport roundabout where two vehicles were involved in a collision.
Police swiftly closed the road at around 12.30pm with two people being trapped inside the vehicles.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service sent two crews who used cutting equipment to extract two people on long board stretchers.
A spokesman said: “We were called at 12.36pm to a two-vehicle collision on the A696 southbound near Newcastle Airport.
“We dispatched two crews to the scene who used cutting equipment to free two casualties.
“They were released on long board stretchers and taken to hospital for further treatment."
Three double-crewed ambulances and a rapid response paramedic were also dispatched to the scene and gave medical treatment at the scene.
A total of three patients were transported to the Royal Victoria Infirmary for further treatment.
A North East Ambulance spokeswoman said: “We received a call at 12.27pm to a road traffic collision on the A696.
“We dispatched three double-crewed ambulances and a rapid response paramedic to the scene.
“We transported three casualties to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
“One patient was being treated for chest pains, another had leg and hip pains and the third had spine and lower back injuries.”
The A696 was closed off to traffic for around three hours which was causing havoc for passengers flying to and from Newcastle Airport.
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Drivers were being diverted on the B6918 while the vehicles involved were recovered.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “We were called to a two-vehicle collision on the A696 at around 12.30pm near Newcastle Airport.
“One lane was closed on the southbound carriageway while we waited for vehicle recovery.
“The incident caused traffic congestion around Newcastle Airport and a diversion was put in place.
"The road reopened to traffic again at around 3.30pm.”
