Flybe plane in emergency landing at Manchester Airport

About 40 passengers were on board

A plane had to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport just minutes after take-off.

The Flybe flight BE663 took off from Manchester for Bournemouth on Monday with about 40 passengers on board.

But soon after leaving the captain announced the plane had "technical" problems and would have to turn back.

In a second announcement to passengers he said the fault had worsened and he was shutting down an engine. The plane landed safely shortly afterwards.

'Technical issue'

Passengers were transferred to a flight to Southampton and then taken by bus to Bournemouth.

A Flybe spokesman said the plane had to turn back as a "precautionary measure following a technical issue".

He said: "The safety of its passengers and crew is Flybe's number one priority and the captain requested a priority landing into Manchester where the aircraft taxied to its stand and the passengers disembarked normally.

"Flybe apologises to passengers for the delay to their journey and any inconvenience caused."