Emergency services scramble at two airports

Emergency services at Dublin and Shannon airports were scrambled today after separate problems on Saudi Arabian Airlines and …

Emergency services at Dublin and Shannon airports were scrambled today after separate problems on Saudi Arabian Airlines and British Airways flights.

The BA flight from London Heathrow to Chicago made an unscheduled landing at Dublin Airport at around 2.30  this afternoon after it reported engine failure. An Aer Rianta spokeswoman said the airport's full emergency service apparatus was mobilised.

There were no injuries among the 204 passengers and crew and the Boeing 777 is now parked awaiting inspection by Aer Lingus ground crews. At the time of writing, passengers were still aboard the plane. Emergency crews have been stood down.

Earlier, Shannon Airport was closed for a time when a Saudi Arabian Airlines plane blocked the runway after its nosewheel collapsed shortly after landing this morning. The Lockheed L10-11 was on a scheduled refuelling stop when the incident happened at 9.24 a.m.

READ MORE

The aircraft blocked the airport's only runway and emergency services attended the scene.

The 33 passengers and crew who were uninjured remained on board while the plane was prepared for towing. The airport reopened shortly after 10 a.m. by which time the place had been removed from the runway.

The plane was en route from Toronto to Amman, Jordan, when the incident occurred. It is not expected to be able to continue its journey until tomorrow at the earliest.