Ryanair emergency landing after passenger 'tried to open the door during flight'

The flight has since resumed its journey from the United Kingdom to Africa.

A flight was forced to return to the airport it had just left this morning, after a passenger tried to open one of the aircraft's emergency exits while the jet was in the sky.

The Ryanair service, which was bound to Agadir, in Morocco, had to return to Manchester Airport, after taking off from the transport hub at around 9.20am.

Liverpool Echo reports an eyewitness claims a passenger allegedly tried to 'open an emergency exit' mid-flight and that other passengers intervened and alerted the cabin crew.

The witness said the cabin crew then involved the flight's captain, and that the individual was moved away from the emergency exit seat, with the captain having to stay by the exit.

The aircraft landed and the woman in question was 'escorted off the plane by Greater Manchester Police', the fellow passenger reported.

Engineers were subsequently called in to assess any damage and replace parts, as per the witness's account, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The flight has since resumed its journey from the United Kingdom to Morocco. The aircraft left its gate as scheduled just after 9am, and took off around 9.20am this morning, Monday August 25 from Manchester's terminal three.

It set off for Al-Massira International Airport in North Africa. However, it was rerouted and landed back at Manchester Airport approximately an hour later, at around 10.09am, according to flight trackers, Flight Radar 24 and Flight Aware.

A passenger on the plane said "The Ryanair flight RK1266 [from Manchester] for Agadir in Morocco [was] diverted back to Manchester Airport due to a passenger attempting to open emergency exit.

"However she was only able to get the plastic covering off and as a result was unsuccessful, as other passengers stopped her and made cabin crew aware of the situation at 9.30am, who then made the captain aware.

"The passenger was moved from the emergency exit seat and the captain remained at the emergency exit until we landed back at Manchester Airport.

"The plane landed safely and the passenger involved was escorted off the plane by Greater Manchester Police. Engineers came to check the door and replaced the plastic covers."

The aircraft remained airborne for one hour and seven minutes before touching down again in Manchester. Flight RUK1266 subsequently resumed its journey at 11.22am, Flight Aware data showed.

Liverpool Echo states that airline firm Ryanair, Manchester Airport and Greater Manchester Police have all been approached for comment.