Loud bang and flames seen coming from plane after take off at Manchester
A Jet2 plane was seen circling above Greater Manchester after witnesses heard a ‘loud bang’ and ‘flames’ shortly after take-off.
The aircraft, which is believed to be a Boeing 757, was flying over the area since it took off from Manchester Airport on Monday afternoon. An online flight tracker shows the plane flying in circles.
Jet2 said the aircraft was on a ‘routine test flight’ when it reported a minor fault but later landed safely. Witnesses described hearing ‘popping’ noises at around 3pm, while one said the force of the noise caused his house to shake.
Helen Whatmough, who said she lives under the flight path close to the airport, reported seeing flames coming from the aircraft’s engine.
She wrote on Twitter: ‘That was scary to hear and witness flames coming out of the right engine! Never heard anything like it before living under flight path #manchesterairport’.
Another wrote: ‘Really loud noise in Manchester Airport area at around 3pm. The house was vibrating! Hope everything was OK’.
One witness said they saw the engine ‘backfiring’ as the plane took off.
A Jet2 spokesperson said: ‘One of our aircraft on a routine test flight followed procedure and returned to Manchester Airport this afternoon, after the crew reported a minor fault.
‘The aircraft landed safely and will be thoroughly checked over, as is standard practice.’
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said: ‘We are aware of an incident involving a Jet2 aircraft shortly after it left Manchester Airport on a routine test flight earlier this afternoon (Monday 10 August). The aircraft returned to Manchester Airport as a precaution and has landed safely.’
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