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Aircraft returns to Belfast after 'panelling' fell off mid-flight

Reuters A plane is in the sky. The plane is green and white with Aer Lingus regional wrote on the side. The background is a blue sky. Reuters
The Aer Lingus flight was forced to land at Belfast City airport

A flight had to return to Belfast City Airport after reports that "a piece of panelling had fallen from an aircraft whilst in flight," the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said.

The PSNI attended the airport, alongside other emergency services, when the aircraft landed in Belfast.

In a statement, they said: "Police received an emergency report from Belfast City Airport just after 07:20 BST on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Emerald Airlines, operator of Aer Lingus Regional services, confirmed that "flight EI3670 from Belfast City Airport to Leeds Bradford returned to airport shortly after take-off".

They said it was a "precautionary measure due to a technical issue".

"The aircraft landed normally," they added.

"Passengers will be offered alternative arrangements."