Holidaymakers in search of winter sun found themselves plunged into a nightmare after the cockpit of their jet from Manchester to Barbados reportedly filled with smoke.

The Virgin Atlantic A330-300, registration G-VKSS, took off from Manchester Airport at around 1pm before it issued a squawk emergency call 20 minutes later.

Flight VS77 then turned around and returned to the airport during its journey over the Irish sea en route to the Barbados capital Bridgetown, reporting a technical issue.

Pilots are said to have informed air traffic controllers of 'dense and acrid smell of smoke' as they turned the jet around.

They brought it back onto the ground safely at around 1.50pm, https://vc77.email where it was met by several fire engines.




YouTube channel Drones and Planes captured footage of the Virgin Atlantic plane touching down at Manchester





Emergency services rushed onto the runway at the northern airport to meet the aircraft





Virgin Atlantic jet G-VKSS (pictured in May 2017) took off from Manchester Airport at 1pm on Sunday only to turn around as the pilots reported smoke in the cockpit





Flight VS77, which had been bound for Bridgetown in Barbados, issued an emergency call known as a squawk around 20 minutes after taking off





A woman in Rhyl, Wales, said the plane came in 'really low' and appeared to be flying at a 'really strange angle' as it made its return to Manchester

One local in Rhyl, Wales, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the jet appeared to fly 'really low' and at a 'really strange angle'.

She added: 'I saw it heading towards my direction as I'm sitting on my bed looking out my window, the angle it was flying looked really strange… straight away knew something was wrong.'

Transponder data reported by FlightRadar suggested the plane flew over Rhyl at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet - half the altitude it was at when it flew out in the opposite direction.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told aircraft news website AirLive: 'The VS77 from Manchester to Barbados has returned to Manchester due to a technical issue.

'The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

The fault appears to have led to the cancellation of the return flight from Barbados to the northern city, which had been due to leave at 8.05pm local time (12.05am GMT).

Flight logs for the aircraft show it flew from Manchester to Bridgetown and back on Saturday, suggesting it would have been set to do the same today.

Passengers took to social media to ask Virgin Atlantic for help as to next steps.

One wrote: 'Any chance you can let us know what is happening with VS78 from Barbados tonight now it is cancelled? When will be be able to get back?'

Another said: 'Just been informed VS78 cancelled Bridgetown to Manchester. Could really do with an update. Family of 5 out of our accommodation. Kids have uni exams to get back to! Help.'

Virgin said in a statement to MailOnline: 'The flight has now been cancelled and all affected customers will be rebooked on alternative flights.'

Three fire engines met the airplane on the runway as it touched down in Manchester according to The Sun.

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told the paper: 'At just after 1.30pm today (Sunday), firefighters were called to an incident involving an aircraft making an emergency landing at Manchester Airport.

'Three fire engines from Wythenshawe and Stockport, the Technical Response Unit from Ashton and the Command Support Unit from Hyde arrived quickly at the scene.

'Working alongside Manchester Airport fire personnel, firefighters were on standby for the aircraft's arrival, which landed safely.

'Our crews were in attendance for approximately one and a half hours.'


Manchester Airport