Thousands of passengers are stranded after an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin Airport was forced to turn back due to engine trouble.
Flight EI106 that departed from New York's John F Kennedy International Airport on December 23 had to make an emergency landing after the engine reportedly went on fire. A number of angry passengers flying home for Christmas have taken to social media claiming to not have received any updates from Aer Lingus about recovery flights.
Irish footballer Jamie Finn wrote on Twitter: "Hi @AerLingus, Can you please help us? Our flight EI106 had to make an emergency landing and now we are stranded at JFK Airport with no update?
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"We have been told there is a recovery flight coming but have also been told there is no flight until the 26th of December!!!!!"
Another passenger, Kathryn Toolin, said that she heard five or six bangs and "the right engine was in flames for moments after each bang". Speaking to RTE News, she said: "That rocked the plane a bit and everybody was a bit shook up. We clearly heard the engine being turned off because it basically went silent on the right side of the plane."
An Aer Lingus spokesperson told Dublin Live that the flight was cancelled due to "a technical issue with the aircraft".
They said: "Aer Lingus teams are currently working to re-accommodate all passengers with alternative flight arrangements and are endeavouring to ensure all customers depart New York by the evening of December 25. The majority of passengers have had their alternative flight arrangements confirmed to them and we are working through the remainder to ensure everyone has certainty on re-accommodation arrangements.
"We are also working to book hotel accommodation for those customers who need to stay overnight before they depart. We sincerely apologise for this disruption to customers’ Christmas travel plans and we aim to have them arrive at their destination as soon as possible."
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