Manchester Airport easyJet flight makes sudden return as fire crews race to runway

Firefighters rushed on to the runway at Manchester Airport after an easyJet flight made a sudden return.

The EZY2033 flight to Alicante circled for a short while on Tuesday afternoon (June 20). before flying over Cheshire and returning back to Manchester as passengers reported hearing a ‘grinding noise’ when up in the air. The flight path showed how the plane initially took off at 12.30pm, before circling six times over the Peak District.

It then flew over the county before arriving back at Manchester Airport an hour later. easyJet said that the ‘safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is our highest priority’ and that the flight was eventually cancelled due to a ‘technical issue’ with the aircraft that ‘could not be resolved’, reports the Manchester Evening News.

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The plane was met by fire engines on the runway which – it is understood – is a standard procedure in instances where pilots make emergency landings due to technical fault. Passengers have now been booked onto alternate flights.

One passenger on board said: “There was a weird big grinding noise on take off. Then we didn’t seem to get any higher and could tell we were circling. After a while, the pilot came on saying there was a technical issue and we had to return to Manchester. On landing, all fire engines were around the runway and plane when we came to a stop.

The flightpath (Image: FlightRadar24)

“We were told we’d get further info on what was happening and were eventually told flight was cancelled. We got a message when we were sat in departures waiting for information telling us it was cancelled and offering us the chance to re-book. We have re-booked for tomorrow morning.”