FLIGHTS between Carlisle Lake District Airport and Dublin have been cancelled today due to a faulty aircraft.

At approximately 8am crews from Carlisle East, Carlisle West and Brampton were called to reports of an aircraft coming into land with an engine out.

Crews were on standby for the emergency landing, but fortunately the aircraft landed safely. However, the fault has caused all flights between Carlisle and Dublin to be cancelled and alternative options offered.

A spokesperson for Loganair said: "Loganair flight LM635 from Carlisle and Dublin returned to Carlisle this morning shortly after take-off as a result of a fault on the left-hand engine. The Saab 340 aircraft with 15 customers and three crew members aboard landed safely and normally at Carlisle with emergency services in attendance as a precautionary measure.

"Today's services between Carlisle and Dublin have unfortunately been cancelled as a result of this issue, and customers will be offered alternative flights to and from Dublin with ground transport. Later flights today between Carlisle and Belfast City and Carlisle and London Southend will operate as normal using a replacement aircraft which is being flown into Carlisle to take over the services whilst an engineering inspection on the first aircraft takes place.

"Safety is always Loganair's first priority. We are grateful to the emergency services and Carlisle airport team for their assistance this morning, and apologise to those customers whose journeys have been disrupted as a result of this incident."

Chief executive officer for Stobart Aviation, Glyn Jones, said: "I had a call this morning explaining there had been an emergency landing at Carlisle Lake District Airport the plane took off then called an emergency, then landed.

"All passengers disembarked and procedure was followed."