A flight bound for Manchester Airport was forced to turn back amid reports of a shattered windscreen in the cockpit. The Aer Lingus flight reportedly declared an emergency over the Irish Sea.
The flight tracking service, Radar Box, said its captain transmitted a code indicating a general emergency, which was later confirmed as a 'badly shattered, right hand windscreen'. Aer Lingus flight EI3326 departed from Dublin Airport at 3.15pm on Tuesday bound for Manchester Airport.
According to reports, the emergency was declared just minutes into the flight. The flight tracking service revealed the Airbus was en-route back to Dublin Airport after only making it to the coast off Howth, a suburb of Dublin.
Aer Lingus confirmed in a statement the flight returned to Dublin Airport, and landed safely without incident, shortly after take-off 'due to a technical issue on board'.
A spokesman apologised to passengers on board and said they were booked on the next available flight on Tuesday evening. No further details were available.
Radar Box said the captain transmitted the code 7700, indicating a general emergency - which was then confirmed as a 'badly shattered right-hand windscreen'.
In a statement to the Manchester Evening News an Emerald Airlines spokesperson, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus regional services, said: "Aer Lingus regional, operated by Emerald Airlines, can confirm that flight EI3326 from Dublin Airport to Manchester Airport, May 31, returned to Dublin shortly after take-off due to a technical issue onboard.
"The aircraft landed safely in Dublin a short time later. Affected customers will be rebooked on the next available flight this evening. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers."
