A US military aircraft made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport in the early hours of this morning.
The crew of the Hercules C-130 turbo-prop plane told air traffic controllers that they had a problem with one of their engines.
Shannon’s emergency plan was put into place while three units of the fire brigade from Shannon along with ambulances from Ennis and Limerick were sent to the airport.
Additional fire crews from Ennis were mobilised to a designated holding point adjacent to the M18 motorway at Latoon in case they were required.
The aircraft landed safely shortly before 1.00am and was directed to a taxiway where military aircraft are parked at Shannon, often under armed guard.
The plane remains in Shannon where engineers are expected to investigate the problem this afternoon.
The passengers and crew spent the night in a local hotel.
Last August, another US C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing at Shannon after the crew reported a fuel leak over the Atlantic. The flight landed safely.
Source: The Clare Herald
Photo Credit: Pat Flynn