Etihad flight returns to Manchester after 'loud bang' reports during take-off

Passengers on flight EY22 left Manchester on Monday evening but returned to airport after the incident

An Etihad plane bound for Abu Dhabi was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff. Vasily Fedosenko / Reuters

Passengers were evacuated from an Etihad Airways' flight bound for Abu Dhabi after a loud bang was heard shortly after take-off.

Flight EY22 left Manchester at 7.28pm on Monday but landed back at the airport just before 8pm, according to reports in the British media.

Passengers took to social media to speak about their experiences. One described a “small fire” at the back of the plane.

Etihad Airways #EY22 Manchester to Abu Dhabi (Boeing 777 A6-ETA) declared Pan Pan after departure & returned to MAN after reports of a 'loud bang' & a small fire at the rear of the aircraft. pic.twitter.com/wSqY4cS5uC

— Brendan Grainger (@Highflyermel) January 14, 2019

A spokesman for the airport confirmed that the fire service attended the scene.

All passengers disembarked safely.

Etihad said in a statement: "Etihad Airways confirms that flight EY22, Manchester to Abu Dhabi returned to Manchester Airport shortly after take-off, due to a technical issue.

"The aircraft landed safely and passengers have disembarked. Etihad Airways apologises for the delay and inconvenience to passengers. Safety is the airline’s number one priority."

On Monday, an Emirates plane was damaged after it was forced to abort a take-off in Cairo due to an unauthorised vehicle on the runway.

“Unexpected braking at high speed caused damage to the tyres and the aircraft returned back to the terminal,” the airline said.

Flight EK 928 from Cairo to Dubai was delayed by more than eight hours.