Mid-air scare for RAF station commander after engine failure

Propeller drama: Gp Cpt Gale snapped image of failed engine before emergency landing.© MoD

Two senior officers from RAF Lossiemouth were involved in a dramatic emergency landing at Newcastle airport on Thursday after one of the engines failed on their plane.

Group Captain Ian Gale and Wing Commander Jonathon Moreton, who commands XV Squadron, were flying back from a visit to the BAE Systems site at Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire when the drama unfolded.

The Lossiemouth station commander’s army of followers on Twitter were first to learn of a problem after he sent out a tweet in mid-air after smoke was seen billowing from the engine.

Group Captain Gale had been looking at Typhoon and F-35 techniques being developed by the defence industry company.

On the flight home the CO posted on Twitter: “Things you don’t want to see out of your 2-engined plane window” – and attached a dramatic photograph of one of the engines after it had been switched off.

Shortly after he added: “Coming in to land at Newcastle – smoke stopped, engine shut down and fingers crossed!”

As almost 1500 Twitter followers held their breath they were relieved to receive the final message moments later: “And safely down. Thank you to our crew for excellent drills and Newcastle Airport staff for swift response”.

The pair then caught a train from Newcastle to complete their journey home to Moray.

Local sources at Newcastle Airport confirmed that a light aircraft had experienced technical difficulties and was diverted to land at the airport. Fire Service and Paramedics had attended the scene as a precaution but normal airport service resumed after five minutes.

A scheduled display by a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight today (Friday) at Lossiemouth has had to be cancelled because of high winds.

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