RAF bomber in emergency landing

Emergency crews put out the fire after the plane landed

A Tornado bomber from RAF Lossiemouth was at the centre of a full-scale emergency alert when it was forced to land on just one set of wheels.

Its two-man crew are said to be shaken but otherwise uninjured.

The Tornado was returning to its base when its pilot reported he could only lower the wheels on the port side.

Its right wing scraped and sparked across the tarmac and caught fire when it touched down. An arrester wire brought the jet to a halt.

The blaze was smothered in foam as the pilot and his navigator scrambled to safety.

RAF spokesman, Michael Mulford, said: "They will be happy that all the training kicked in at the right minute, but I am sure they will sleep fairly sound tonight.

"Knowing them they will be back in the air tomorrow because that's the way that the RAF works."

The aircraft is fire damaged but can be repaired. An inquiry will be held into the cause of the incident.