Flybe passenger jet bound for Gatwick forced to make emergency landing after windscreen shatters

A passenger plane flying to Gatwick had to make a sudden landing after its windscreen cracked in mid-flight.

The Flybe flight from Newquay airport was forced to turn back and land when a huge crack spanning the main cockpit window suddenly appeared.

Ray Ellis, 40, one of 92 passengers on board, said the Embraer 195 aircraft was at 12,000ft when the pilot was forced to abandon the journey.

The pilot had left the door to the cabin open as people disembarked so that they could see for themselves the problem that had forced them to return to the ground, and Mr Ellis took a picture.

A Flybe spokesperson said: “The captain took the necessary action and, as a usual precautionary measure, the airport put its emergency vehicles on standby.

“Road transport has been provided for all 92 passengers to complete their travel to London Gatwick.”