A FULL scale emergency alert was declared at Southampton International Airport today after a Chinook helicopter from RAF Odiham reported it was having problems.
Emergency services including Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the police, ambulance and the airport's own fire service were scrambled.
But the helicopter - with six people on board - landed safely at 9.52am. None of the emergency services were required.
An airport spokesman said the Chinook diverted to Southampton Airport as a precautionary measure after the crew reported a "minor fault."
After landing safely the Chinook was left sitting on the asphalt at the airport which is more used to dealing with scheduled civilian aircraft.
No one at RAF Odiham was available to say where the helicopter was flying to or give details of the nature of the reported fault.
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