Loganair plane birdstrike

The Stornoway mailplane made an emergency landing after suffering a birdstrike this morning.

The pilot of flight LOG778 shut down one engine shortly when the incident occurred, after taking off from Inverness Airport, at dawn.

The Saab 340A which is contracted to carry letters and small packages for Royal Mail was forced to turn back.

A full-scale emergency was declared and the airport service firecrews were standing-by the runway as the aircraft landed.

Loganair chief operating officer Phil Preston said: "Our mail service freighter aircraft from Inverness to Stornoway, with two crew on board, suffered a bird strike on take-off from Inverness at 6.36am this morning.

“An emergency was declared as a precaution.

“The pilot returned to Inverness and landed safely on one engine at 7.10am

“This aircraft only carries mail and freight. There are no passengers."

Plane makes emergency landing after birdstrike

3 April 2015