Aircraft makes emergency landing at Shannon

A Virgin Atlantic aircraft flying from Heathrow to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing at Shannon airport this afternoon.

"The pilot made a precautionary landing at Shannon for a check," an airline spokesman said.

"There was no danger to passengers."

The spokesman said reports of a suspected fire in the plane's cockpit were wrong.

"There was no fire in the cockpit," he said, adding that further checks were being made on the aircraft, which was carrying 139 passengers.

The plane landed safely at Shannon at 12.49pm.