Emergency Drama at Southampton Airport as Flight BE148 Declares In-Flight Crisis
Chaos erupted at Southampton Airport just before 10pm on Friday when flight BE148 from Newcastle declared an emergency. Fire crews scrambled after the pilot of the 11-year-old DHC8-402 Dash 8, registration G-ECOH, reported a door indicator warning light flashing in the cockpit.
Plane’s Troubled Past: Turbulence and Engine Woes
This isn’t the Dash 8’s first brush with danger. Back in February 2014, the same aircraft hit severe turbulence over the Isle of Man, seriously injuring a cabin crew member. Then, in 2017, Flight BE-385 from Southampton to Dublin suffered engine troubles midair. The left engine was shut down due to low oil pressure, forcing the plane to divert to Birmingham for an emergency landing.
Second Attempt at Landing Amid Emergency
On Friday night, the troubled plane tried to touch down but aborted the landing, circling for a second attempt shortly after 10.15pm. Two airport fire tenders accompanied the aircraft, following it down the runway as emergency services rushed to the scene with blue lights flashing.
Emergency Response and Airport Reaction
Alongside fire crews and ambulances, two police incident support units were spotted airside at Eastleigh airport. Eyewitnesses say the plane showed no visible signs of damage. The airport duty manager declined to comment on the ongoing situation.
More updates to follow as this developing story unfolds.
