Plane bound for Scotland forced into ‘emergency landing’

Published on 07/09/2012 15:04

SCOTLAND-bound tourists were given a scare when a jet had to make an “emergency” landing after it suffered a mechanical fault moments after take-off.

More than 140 passengers were on board a flight from Faro in Portugal to Edinburgh which had to circle over the ocean to burn off fuel before landing yesterday.

It is understood the Boeing 737’s pilot discovered mechanical problems in the plane’s wing flaps and decided to return to ground rather than make the 3000km journey.

The plane was operated by budget airline Jet2, which had to put the passengers on another flight which arrrived in the Edinburgh in the early hours of this morning.

The airline denied the landing was an emergency, though local media reported fire crews awaited its return on the runway.

The flight was scheduled to travel from Faro, in southern Portugal, to Edinburgh at 12.30pm yesterday.

But the pilot suffered problems retracting the airliner’s flaps soon after take-off.

The plane had to circle over the ocean for 75 minutes in order to burn off fuel.

When the plane, which is more than 100ft long, eventually landed, passengers disembarked without injury.

Faro to Edinburgh flights can cost £135 with Jet2.

Jet2 said in an official statement: “Shortly after take off the 12:30pm flight from Faro to Edinburgh on 6th September there was a minor technical fault indication.

“The captain followed the standard procedure, in that event, to return to Faro, where the aircraft landed normally.

“We provided a replacement aircraft which landed back in Edinburgh at 1:20am this morning.

“We would like to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused.”

English-language newspaper The Portugal News reported the plane made an emergency landing after suffering problems with its flaps.

Though a Jet2 spokeswoman said the landing was “unscheduled” but not an emergency.

The practise the pilot decided to land as a safety precaution, she said.