After a mid-air problem, the Etihad passenger plane returns to Manchester Airport

Passengers have been evacuated from the aircraft at Manchester Airport after a technical problem that has arisen in the air shortly after takeoff.

Etihad Airways flight EY22 to Abu Dhabi left Manchester at 19:28 GMT, but then returned to the airport 30 minutes later.

One passenger claimed that there was a small fire on the back of Facebook.

The airport confirmed that the fire engines had reached the airplane but no one was hurt.

The spokesman said, "The flight returned to the airport. Fire engines are in line with the plane according to the usual procedure."

Passenger Graham Ecclestone wrote on Facebook: "Went. Ten minutes after the accident landing in Manchester.

"The aircraft got a small fire back on the ground.

The airline has only confirmed that there is a "technical problem".