11/05/2010

Ryanair Flight In Emergency Landing

There's been an emergency landing at George Best Belfast City Airport today.

A Ryanair plane travelling to London Stansted has turned back and has made a precautionary landing at the east Belfast airport after taking off on Tuesday.

A Ryanair said: "After take off cabin crew noticed an acrid smell and standard procedure was followed and the aircraft turned back and landed".

The spokesman also said that all 154 passengers disembarked safely at about 7.30am.

A full emergency was called and a spokesperson from Belfast City Airport confirmed that the emergency services were at the scene as a precaution.

The source of the smell is now being investigated.

However, yesterday, Ryanair finally admitted that volcanic ash has been found in the engines of two of its aircraft located at George Best Belfast City Airport.

This came after Four Ryanair flights to England were cancelled at the airport on Sunday, leaving dozens of passengers stranded.

Initially, the airline said the planes all had separate technical problems unrelated to the Icelandic eruption.

But after further tests on Sunday, the airline confirmed that two of its aircraft at the City airport showed small traces of ash in their engines.

A Ryanair spokesman said yesterday that the planes would return to service later on Monday.

It is not known if the aircraft involved in the emergency today was one of those planes.

See: Ryanair Admits Belfast Engines Hit By Ash

(BMcC/GK)

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