A PLANE was forced to make a dramatic emergency landing at Southampton Airport.

The Flybe BE886 service to Glasgow initially took off from the Eastleigh-based airport at 12.44pm on Sunday with 65 passengers onboard.

But the pilots were forced to turn back due to what the airport is saying was a “technical issue” discovered shortly after it was airborne.

Airport services launched a major emergency response with Hampshire Fire and Rescue called to back up the airport’s on-site fire engines to standby on the runway.

But after circling several times the plane safely landed on the tarmac at 1.21pm.

Passengers disembarked the plane and were transferred to another flight after a short wait and it took off at 2.52pm.

A spokeswoman for Southampton Airport said: “Flight BE886 was going to Glasgow when there was a technical issue and it returned to the airport.

“All the normal emergency procedures were followed but it landed safely and the passengers disembarked normally before getting on another flight to their destination.”

No other flights were delayed as a result of the incident, she said.

It is believed the plane suffered problems with its undercarriage.

A Flybe spokesman said: "Flybe can confirm that the captain of the flight elected to return to Southampton shortly after take-off earlier today following a suspected technical fault with the aircraft.

"As is usual in such circumstances, the airport put its emergency vehicle on local standby.

"The aircraft landed safely without incident and as a precautionary measure was towed to stand where all 66 passengers disembarked as normal.

"Passengers were re-accommodated on an alternate flight which departed with a two hour and 20 minute delay.

“The safety of its passengers and crew is the airline’s number one priority and the airline apologises for any inconvenience experienced."

A spokeswoman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said crews from St Mary’s, Redbridge and Eastleigh fire stations were called to the airport but stood down when the plane landed safely.