Flybe plane makes emergency landing at Southampton Airport

The Flybe BE886 flight, which took off for Glasgow shortly before 1pm yesterday with 65 passengers aboard returned shortly afterwards.

A full emergency response was initiated as the plane circled the airport several times. It landed safely at 1.20pm.

A Southampton Airport spokesman said: ‘Flight BE886 was going to Glasgow when there was a technical issue and it returned to the airport.

‘All the normal emergency procedures were followed but it landed safely and the passengers disembarked normally before getting on another flight to their destination.’

Flybe said: ‘Flybe can confirm that the captain of the flight elected to return to Southampton shortly after take-off earlier today following a suspected technical fault with the aircraft.

‘As is usual in such circumstances, the airport put its emergency vehicle on local standby.

‘The aircraft landed safely without incident and as a precautionary measure was towed to stand where all 66 passengers disembarked as normal.

‘Passengers were re-accommodated on an alternate flight which departed with a two hour and 20 minute delay.

‘The safety of its passengers and crew is the airline’s number one priority and the airline apologises for any inconvenience experienced.’