Southampton Airport reopens after incident on an aircraft

Flights in and out of Southampton Airport were suspended after reports of a fire in the wheel of the B625 Flybe flight from Southampton to Guernsey.

The airport has since reopened fully but there are some knock on delays to flights.

However, Flybe has since denied there was a fire on the plane, and described the incident as a "technical fault".

All 76 passengers and four crew were evacuated from the plane.

Julie-Anne Headington, 49, was one of the passengers on board.

She told the Daily Echo: "I was sitting at the front of the aircraft and the fire happened on the left hand wheel.

"We were going along the runway when the engines turned off.

"I said 'what's going on?' and the man next to me said he thought there was a fire.

"There was a problem with the back wheel and there was smoke coming from it.

"The air hostesses were brilliant and they said they were going to keep us on board for now.

"Then three fire engines turned up."

She said the problem could have been down to a bearing in the left hand wheel and brakes failing."

Mrs Headington, who was flying alone, added: "We were on board for about 20 minutes.

"We are now in the airport, have been given food vouchers, and are waiting for more information.

"I found it quite exciting to be honest. There was an air of calm on board."

Southampton Airport has this afternoon confirmed flights are suspended and said teams are working hard to get things up and running.

Eye-witness Michael Aitken, whose home overlooks the runway, said the airport has been closed for an hour and fire engines surround a plane.

He said: "I have never seen anything like this.

"Passengers have been taken off the plane in two coaches.  It looks like it could be something significant.

"The passengers were sat on the plane for about half an hour."

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to attend an aircraft fire but stood down soon after.

A spokesman said: "We were called via a multi-agency request telephone call from Southampton Airport to a ground incident on Runway 20 involving a Dash 8 Aircraft with a fire in the left undercarriage.

"We mobilised our full emergency attendance of four fire appliances plus additional support vehicles and senior officers.

"Shortly after mobilising we received a further call from the airport informing us that the incident was being downgraded and was being dealt with by Airport Fire Service crews.

"We stood all our appliances down except one which attended for details.

"The aircraft was taxing for take off when the fire was spotted, so did not leave the ground."

The incident is now in the hands of the airport's fire service.

However Flybe have since denied there was a fire.

In a statement, Flybe spokesman Andrew McConnell said: "Flybe can confirm that flight BE625 from Southampton to Guernsey experienced a technical fault shortly before departure.

"The aircraft returned to its departure stand and is being inspected by engineers.

"Passengers disembarked the aircraft normally and have been transferred onto an aircraft, which will be departing shortly.

"The emergency services attended as a routine and precautionary measure only.

"Flybe operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers guidelines.

"The safety of its passengers and crew is Flybe's highest priority."