Engine trouble forces plane back to Shannon

AN Aer Lingus plane, operated by Aer Arann, was forced to return to Shannon Airport yesterday after experiencing technical difficulties shortly after take-off.

Regional flight EI-3612, an ATR72-500 turbo-prop plane, left Shannon for Glasgow at 10.58am yesterday but soon afterwards the crew contacted air traffic controllers to report a problem and to advise them that they might need to return to the airport.

The aircraft’s departure had been uneventful. After being cleared to climb to a height of 17,000 feet, the crew alerted controllers to the possible problem with one of its engines. The crew received indications on their cockpit instruments of a possible technical issue.

The plane levelled off while the crew dealt with the problem. However, after troubleshooting the issue for a time, the crew formally requested permission to return to Shannon to have the matter further investigated.

The flight entered an orbit to the east of Shannon in order to lose height before routing back to the airfield. The captain did not request the assistance of emergency services, though crash crews were on standby.

The three-year-old, French-built plane touched down without incident at 11.18am and taxied to the apron where engineers investigated the problem.

It had been hoped the flight would continue its journey in the afternoon, however the issue could not be rectified. The 40 passengers were offered refunds or the option of transport to Cork by bus to get a flight to Edinburgh. Those who availed of that option were then taken by road from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

An Aer Arann spokesperson said: “The flight did not declare an emergency and the return was precautionary as safety is always our highest priority. The aircraft landed as normal and there were approximately 40 passengers on board.”