Holiday jet makes emergency landing

A Futura Boeing 737 had to make an emergency landing

A charter jet taking about 170 holiday makers home to Ireland was forced to make an emergency landing in the Canary Islands.

The Futura Boeing 737 developed engine problems a short distance into the flight from Gran Canaria to Dublin on Sunday night.

The pilot had to circle for more than an hour before finally landing in Tenerife.

There was terror - people were getting sick, crying, going pale

Bartley O'Connor

Holidaymakers - which included some from Northern Ireland - described their ordeal on board the plane.

Passenger Bartley O'Connor said the problems began about 20 minutes after take-off.

"There were a number of loud bangs on the right hand side of the plane.

"The wings dipped on either side, the plane took a nose dive and wobbled about the place for a couple of seconds.

"There was terror. People were getting sick, crying, going pale. Some were just sitting numb with fear."

He said after 10 minutes an air hostess announced that the engine was "seriously damaged" and the plane would not be able to make it to Dublin Airport.

Replacement flight

The pilot was then forced to circle for over an hour to burn off fuel before landing safely in Tenerife.

Mr O'Connor said there was "clapping, cheering and shouting" when they finally touched down.

The passengers were put up in a hotel before a new plane was flown in to take them back to Ireland on Monday morning.

But two people refused to board the replacement flight and alternative arrangements were being made to get them home.

An airline spokesman was unable to comment on reports that the passengers had seen flames coming out of one of the engines.