Plane makes emergency landing due to smoke alert; Belfast, N. Ireland

A plane carrying 69 passengers has landed safety at Belfast City Airport after the pilot requested emergency landing procedures be deployed.

 

The Flybe flight from Southampton was approaching the airport when the crew was alerted by a smoke indication from the baggage hold, the airline said.

 

Ambulances and fire engines were sent to the airport as a precaution but the plane landed safely at 17:55 GMT.

 

A spokeswoman for Belfast City Airport said all passengers disembarked safely.

 

The airport representative said emergency procedures were “enacted as a precautionary measure” and the scheduled flight, BE996, landed about 10 minutes earlier than expected.

‘Evacuated’

In a statement, the airline said: “Flybe can confirm that the captain of the above flight with 69 passengers and four crew on board was alerted by a smoke indication from the rear baggage hold on its approach into George Best Belfast City Airport this afternoon.

 

“The crew took the necessary action and the aircraft landed safely. Passengers evacuated the aircraft immediately by both front and rear stairs as normal and were bussed to the terminal.”

 

Flybe confirmed there was no sign of smoke in the aircraft after the landing but said that the incident would be “fully investigated”.

 

The airline said the safety of its passengers and crew was its “number one priority” and added that it “regrets any inconvenience experienced”.

 

Earlier this month, a Flybe flight from Glasgow to Belfast made an emergency landing due to an engine fire.

 

That incident is also under investigation.

Courtesy of BBC News

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