Edinburgh Airport halted all flights this afternoon following a mid-air emergency declared by a British Airways aircraft shortly after departure. Flight BA1443, bound for London Heathrow, left the Scottish capital 11.13am on Monday, December 8.

The Airbus A320 circled above Stirling and Alloa before the pilot activated the emergency squawk 7700 procedure, prompting an immediate return to Edinburgh. British Airways has subsequently confirmed a "technical issue" was identified with the aircraft.

Photographs circulating on social media showed the plane stationary on Edinburgh Airport's sole runway, surrounded by emergency response vehicles. Fire crews and police were visible on the tarmac attending to the situation.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed six fire appliances, alongside

See Full Page