Stansted Airport delays: Flights suspended after aborted take-off of Vienna-bound plane due to engine failure

Flights were temporarily suspended at Stansted Airport after a plane was forced to abort take-off due to an engine failure

One passenger described hearing a "big bang" as his departing flight "skidded to a stop" on Friday evening.

Thomas Steer was on the Vienna-bound Lauda Air flight when the "scary" incident happened shortly after 8pm.

The estate agent, 24, from Essex, said the plane had been accelerating for about 15 seconds before there was a "big bang on the side of the aircraft which skidded to a stop".

He said: "It was scary. And then staff shouting 'evacuate evacuate'.

"My friend opened the emergency exit and we slid down the slides, a few old people fell over and the fire brigade treated them.

"No-one was seriously injured just minor things."

An airport spokesman said all passengers were safely evacuated.

Stansted Airport tweeted: "Flights at Stansted are currently suspended due to an aircraft on the runway following an aborted take off due to a suspected engine problem.

"We will post further updates as soon as they become available. Thank you."

The airport added: "Emergency service attended and all passengers were evacuated from the aircraft as a precaution and have now been taken back to the terminal."

Images posted to social media by delayed passengers showed flashing blue lights on the runway.

Another person wrote on Twitter: "Mid take off at Stansted, our plane had a huge bang, skidded to a stop and all had to evacuate down the slides, with my friend opening the emergency door. A scary experience for sure."

"If you are wondering about the incident at Stansted a plane was stopped just before getting on the runway because of an engine failure," another said.

"Everyone is ok, we are on a bus waiting to get back to the Terminal."

Passengers reported delays of up to two hours after the incident.