Holidaymakers witnessed emergency services attending to reports of a fire on a TUI aircraft at Manchester Airport this afternoon (Saturday, July 30).
Fire crews raced to Terminal Two after the flight had landed at around 3.45pm, after reports that a fire had broken out on a TUI aircraft - witnesses reported seeing an 'enormous' amount of smoke coming from the right side of the plane.
They also said the "fire was extinguished by cabin staff shortly before emergency services arrived", the Manchester Evening News reports.
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Several holidaymakers reported that planes were temporarily unable to land or take off from the airport following the emergency onboard the aircraft, which had been returning from Mahon in Menorca. One passenger wrote on Twitter: "Wonder what’s going on at Manchester Airport. Had a go around and now nothing taking off or landing and in holding positions."
Another said: "Sat on the ground waiting for take and saw a few fire engines and other emergency vehicles going past. They've said on our flight that there was an incident with an arriving flight."
One holidaymaker said he witnessed the fire as he waited in the airport's Escape Lounge for his flight to Fuerteventura, which was due to take off in the same aircraft. He told the M.E.N: "As it approached gate 106 after arriving at Manchester Airport from Menorca at about 4pm this afternoon it stopped and then as it set off again there was an enormous amount of smoke from the right engine.
"Then there was a fire in the same engine as it pulled into the gate. The pilots put the fire out before the emergency services arrived."
A spokesperson for TUI said: "We can confirm flight TOM2609 Mahon to Manchester airport experienced a technical fault on arrival to the stand and was met by the fire service. The safety of our passengers and crew always remains our highest priority. The aircraft was completely safe to land, and all passengers have been disembarked.
"Any customers who may experience a delay due to this will be contacted to advise them of any changes. We understand how unsettling it can be when an aircraft is met by emergency services so we will continue to offer our full support. We’d like to apologise to all customers for the inconvenience and thank them for their patience and understanding at this time."
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