Ryanair crew were left “in tears” and passengers “terrified” after a plane had to make an emergency U-turn after a “door was left open”, according to reports.
The RK178 flight from Belfast International Airport to Edinburgh left on Tuesday night, October 17, before a “minor technical issue” forced the plan into an emergency landing.
Passengers have since claimed that a door to the plane was left open when it took off.
One passenger told how people were “aware something was wrong” from the moment the plane took off.
They said that the pilot of the plane kept checking one of the doors and that the flight attendants were “shook up” and “in tears”.
The passenger said they were left “terrified” and hoped Ryanair would learn from the situation. They added: “When we landed, they said a problem with the door sensor’s caused it. We had to circle for a little bit even though it was an emergency landing.”
A Ryanair spokesperson told Belfast Live: “This flight from Belfast to Edinburgh returned to Belfast International Airport shortly after departure due to a minor technical issue with the aircraft.
“The aircraft landed normally and to minimise disruption to passengers, an alternative aircraft was quickly arranged, which departed for Edinburgh Airport at 00:40 local. Ryanair sincerely apologises to all affected customers for any inconvenience caused.”
Belfast International airport managing director Graham Keddie also told BBC Radio Ulster that there had been an emergency landing due to a “warning about pressurisation”.
He said: “From what we’re aware, an emergency light came on in the cockpit and the aircraft returned last night not long after it took off. It was an emergency light warning about pressurisation and so the skipper immediately came down to lower level and returned on a full emergency.”
A spokesperson for the Ambulance Service reportedly said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 20:16 on Tuesday 17 October in relation to a potential incident at Belfast International Airport.
“NIAS initially despatched a number of resources to respond to the incident. However at 20:25 all resources were able to stand down as they were no longer required at the scene.”
