A passenger onboard a plane which caught fire at Manchester Airport has described the alarming moment he realised the aircraft's engine was alight. Jonathan Butler, 23, was returning home after a holiday with his partner in Menorca when the blaze was sparked, shortly after the plane - operated by an airline partner on behalf of TUI - landed at Terminal Two.
Fire crews were scrambled to the arrival stand after the plane suffered a 'technical fault'. They were pictured dousing the plane with water, with smoke seen bellowing out from the right engine.
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Mr Butler said the incident left him 'pretty shocked', but praised the airline's cabin staff for their professionalism. "The plane landed okay, but we were on the flight for a while afterwards," he told the Manchester Evening News.
"Then when I looked to my right I could see smoke coming out of the engine. Then the captain came on and said there had been an oil spillage. They asked the cabin crew to disembark and they then got everyone off the plane as quickly as possible.
"The crew were really professional. But we had to get off without our luggage and we are now still waiting for it at the airport and there are massive delays.
"It was bit worrying with all the emergency services there. There were fire engines everywhere. I’m a bit of an anxious flyer, so it definitely didn’t help."
A TUI spokesperson confirmed the aircraft was met by the fire service following a 'technical fault' on arrival. They added that no injuries had been reported.
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 from Mahon to Manchester, which was operated by an airline partner, experienced a technical fault on arrival to the stand and was met by the fire service. We are in contact with the airline to get information about the incident and to confirm when the aircraft can return to service.
"The safety of our passengers and crews on partner airlines always remains our highest priority. The aircraft was completely safe to land, and all passengers have been disembarked.
"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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