An emergency landing has taken place at Cork Airport this morning, with reports that the cockpit on the Aer Lingus plane filled with smoke.
It is understood the Aer Lingus Regional flight EI 3701 was en route to Cork from Birmingham when the captain called for assistance.
It is reported that the cockpit filled with smoke, but Cork Airport says it is not yet in a position to confirm this.
Management at the airport have said that the captain of the plane had reported an issue on board the flight on approach to the airport.
LIVE on #Periscope: Scene at #Cork Airport where an aircraft has landed safely after declaring an-inflight emergenc… https://t.co/XTbMUDWc54
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) August 24, 2016
Reports of smoke being seen from the cockpit could not be confirmed by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which is responsible for Cork Airport.
A DAA spokesman said the plane landed safely as scheduled at about 10.05am with emergency services on stand-by.
“All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft,” he said. “There are reports that there was smoke from the cockpit but I can’t confirm that.”
The Air Accident Investigation Unit of Dublin’s Department of Transport has been called in to investigate the incident.
Cockpit fire #Cork Airport @AerLingus pic.twitter.com/067o8JTJXn
— Donna Abel (@donnaabel3) August 24, 2016
Management at the facility activated its full emergency plan and all 59 passengers and four crew landed safely at 10.05am.
Cork Airport’s Communications Manager Kevin Cullinane outlined the procedure.
He said: “The full emergency plan for Cork Airport was activated, so all the various emergency services within the region were deployed.
UPDATE Stobart Air #EI3701 just landed at Cork with 'smoke in the cabin' - @NikPhillips666 https://t.co/L6CuqpjHKh
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) August 24, 2016
“The aircraft safely landed at Cork Airport at 10.05am and all 59 passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft thanks to the speedy and efficient response of our own airport fire and police services and indeed those of the Cork City Fire Brigade.”
Aircraft has landed safely @CorkAirport after full emergency declared
— Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) August 24, 2016
One unit from Carrigaline fire brigade and five from Cork City were also scrambled.
Plane caught up in emergency has safely landed @CorkAirport #Tv3News. @gardainfo @AmbulanceNAS @CorkCityFire pic.twitter.com/g2BzG1JTO4
— Paul Byrne (@PaulByrne_1) August 24, 2016
Eoin English of the Irish Examiner has reported that emergency services at the airport have been stood down.
UPDATE: Emergency crews being stood down at #Cork Airport pic.twitter.com/qBbwIBzegZ
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) August 24, 2016
