Passengers force door and jump from wing after emergency landing

An investigation has been launched into a Jet2 flight after passengers reported forcing a door open and jumping from the wing after an emergency landing.


The aircraft circled the airport before landing at East Midlands on Wednesday evening due to what Jet2 described as a 'minor electrical fault'.


Some of the 147 passengers on board the flight from Ibiza said there was a 'strong burning smell'. Others said that cabin crew lost control on the ground which led to panic.


The Aviation Herald reported that the intercom system had failed during the second approach and that smoke had appeared in the cabin while the aircraft was taxiing towards the terminal.


Passenger Kyle Charles told the BBC that his friend forced one of the doors open, ran to the end of the wing and jumped down on to the tarmac. He then helped other passengers who were running along the wings down on to the runway.


An airport spokesman said three other flights were diverted to Birmingham and full safety procedures were followed.


The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it had dispatched an investigation team on site following 'a serious incident at East Midlands by an airliner in the evening of Sep 3rd 2014'.


A Jet2 spokesperson said: "Following a safe arrival at East Midlands Airport of flight LS644 we decided to disembark passengers as quickly as possible as a precautionary safety measure because a minor electrical problem led to some smoke in the cabin.


"All passengers were looked after by our airport team and a full investigation is now under way. The safety of our passengers is of paramount importance.