Flybe plane makes emergency landing at Belfast City Airport

A Flybe passenger plane arrived safely at Belfast's George Best City Airport on Tuesday evening after requesting an emergency landing.

The captain requested an emergency landing after a “smoke indication” was raised in the rear baggage hold as Flight BE996 from Southampton was approaching the airport, the company said.

The flight with 69 passengers and four crew on board landed safely at the airport shortly before 6pm. The passengers evacuated the aircraft by front and rear stairs, the company said.

“As is standard practice under such circumstances, the airport placed its emergency vehicles on standby. Flybe can confirm there was no sign of smoke when the aircraft had landed,” the airline said in a statement. It said it will “fully investigate” the incident.

“The safety of its passengers and crew is the airline’s number one priority and Flybe regrets any inconvenience experienced,” the statement said.

The airport said all passengers disembarked safely and passengers were being looked after by airport staff.

It is the airline's second incident in Belfast in recent times. Earlier in December, a Flybe flight from Glasgow to Belfast was forced to make an emergency landing after an engine caught fire.

Flight BE130, which was travelling to Belfast City Airport, was diverted to Belfast International Airport after the engine went on fire.

The airline said the plane was met by emergency services “as a routine and precautionary measure”.