The British Airways plane had been forced to make an emergency landing at a Scottish airport.

Police and the fire service were put on alert as the aircraft landed at Prestwick airport, in Ayrshire, just after 1800 BST on Tuesday.

The plane, which was flying from Glasgow International to Belfast City airport, landed safely and its 39 passengers and four crew were taken to the terminal building.

The captain just told us there was a problem with the engine, that he had to turn it off and that he was diverting back to Glasgow

Aidan Anderson Passenger

Three County Down passengers arriving at Belfast city airport said British Airways staff had handled the situation very well.

Aidan Anderson from Newtownards said: "We normally take a right turn around Stranraer. All of a sudden the right hand engine was turned off and the under-carriage came down.

"That's when we first realised that something was happening. The captain just told us there was a problem with the engine, that he had to turn it off and that he was diverting back to Glasgow.

"The pilot then made a series of turns and then he said we were diverting into Prestwick rather than to Glasgow and he pulled in there and came down on one engine to land.

"He taxied up the runway to stop and we saw the fire engines coming along beside us."

Stewardess

Mr Anderson added: "He then told us that everyone had to evacuate by the left-hand doors and so we all went down the escape slides onto the tarmac and cleared the runway, following the firemen out onto the grass."

George Martin from Comber said the plane had landed at Prestwick without a problem and the fire engines had been summoned just as a precaution.

It was handled well and I have no complaints whatsoever

George Martin

"They said there were sparks coming from the engine that was shut down," he said.

"We were all put down the shoots and went across the tarmac.

"We were well looked after - British Airways looked after us well.

"At first we thought there wasn't a problem. It was only when the stewardess said: 'Get down the shoots', you didn't have time to think then.

"It was handled well and I have no complaints whatsoever."

'Perspective'

Maybeth Whitley from Holywood said the pilot had told passengers they were not in any danger despite the engine problem.

"I felt the staff were very much in control and they worked very quickly," she said.

"It does hit you after you come off the plane, but I fly very regularly, so I put it in perspective."

Passengers were transfered to another plane and arrived in Belfast shortly before 2200 BST almost four hours later than expected.