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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Belfast to US plane in emergency landing at Shannon | Belfast to US plane in emergency landing at Shannon |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| A United Airlines flight from Belfast to Newark has made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport. | A United Airlines flight from Belfast to Newark has made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport. |
| The Boeing 757-224 landed safely at the County Clare airport at 14:28 BST. | The Boeing 757-224 landed safely at the County Clare airport at 14:28 BST. |
| Flight UA76 left Belfast International Airport at 11:19 BST and was due to arrive in New Jersey's Newark Airport at 13:45 local time. | |
| United Airlines said it was a "mechanical issue". In February, a plane on the same route had to make an emergency landing in Manchester. | United Airlines said it was a "mechanical issue". In February, a plane on the same route had to make an emergency landing in Manchester. |
| The reason given for that diversion was also a "mechanical issue". United Airlines said it was not the same plane that was re-directed to Shannon. | The reason given for that diversion was also a "mechanical issue". United Airlines said it was not the same plane that was re-directed to Shannon. |
| There were 121 passengers and nine crew members on board Monday's flight to Newark and they are spending the night in County Clare. | |
| 'Belfast humour' | 'Belfast humour' |
| Shortly after take-off, the plane developed a mechanical issue believed to have been with the landing gear. | Shortly after take-off, the plane developed a mechanical issue believed to have been with the landing gear. |
| An emergency was declared and the plane was diverted to Shannon Airport, where it circled for about two hours to burn off fuel before it was light enough to make a low approach for inspection. | An emergency was declared and the plane was diverted to Shannon Airport, where it circled for about two hours to burn off fuel before it was light enough to make a low approach for inspection. |
| It then gained altitude for a go-around before landing. | It then gained altitude for a go-around before landing. |
| Belfast journalist Lesley-Anne McKeown was on the flight with her husband Brendan. They were heading to New York for three nights to celebrate his 40th birthday. | Belfast journalist Lesley-Anne McKeown was on the flight with her husband Brendan. They were heading to New York for three nights to celebrate his 40th birthday. |
| The Press Association reporter, who is 29 weeks pregnant, said everything was normal with the take-off until the wheels came up and there was a "really loud grinding noise". | The Press Association reporter, who is 29 weeks pregnant, said everything was normal with the take-off until the wheels came up and there was a "really loud grinding noise". |
| "That persisted for a while and then one of the senior flight officers came over the tannoy and said there was a mechanical problem. | "That persisted for a while and then one of the senior flight officers came over the tannoy and said there was a mechanical problem. |
| "He said there was 'nothing to worry about... at this point'. When he said 'at this point' I got worried." | "He said there was 'nothing to worry about... at this point'. When he said 'at this point' I got worried." |
| She said the atmosphere was tense, as cabin crew spoke to various people on board about emergency procedures. | She said the atmosphere was tense, as cabin crew spoke to various people on board about emergency procedures. |
| "People were just worried," she said. "They were trying to keep their spirits up but you could see people were scared. This lasted for two hours." | "People were just worried," she said. "They were trying to keep their spirits up but you could see people were scared. This lasted for two hours." |
| She said she was most frightened when the plane did the fly-past to check if the front wheels were up or down. | She said she was most frightened when the plane did the fly-past to check if the front wheels were up or down. |
| "They confirmed the wheels were down. There was a palpable sense of relief but they still didn't know whether they were in the lock position - whether they could take the impact of the landing," she said. | "They confirmed the wheels were down. There was a palpable sense of relief but they still didn't know whether they were in the lock position - whether they could take the impact of the landing," she said. |
| There were tears and cheers when the plane touched down, she added, and lighter moments during the mid-air drama. | There were tears and cheers when the plane touched down, she added, and lighter moments during the mid-air drama. |
| "When everyone was trying to keep their spirits up the woman in front of us turned to the woman beside her and said 'at least it's not raining'," she said. | "When everyone was trying to keep their spirits up the woman in front of us turned to the woman beside her and said 'at least it's not raining'," she said. |
| "Typical Belfast humour." | "Typical Belfast humour." |
| United Airlines apologised for the inconvenience caused. | United Airlines apologised for the inconvenience caused. |
| "We are providing our customers with meals and overnight hotel accommodation, and are making arrangements for them to continue their journeys tomorrow," the company said. | "We are providing our customers with meals and overnight hotel accommodation, and are making arrangements for them to continue their journeys tomorrow," the company said. |