Elton John’s Private Plane Suffers Hydraulic Failure At 10,000ft, Forced To Make Emergency Landing, Witness Says ‘It Was Horrible To See’
Elton John was travelling from Farnborough Airport in Hampshire on Monday for a gig in New York when the worrying incident occured.
Sir Elton John was reportedly caught in a terrifying mid-air drama as his private jet suffered hydraulic failure at 10,000ft (3000m). The worrying incident occurred when the ace singer was en route to New York then twice failed to make an emergency landing due to high winds.
The 74-year-old singer was travelling from Farnborough Airport in Hampshire on Monday for a gig in New York and was at 10,000ft over Ireland when pilots decided they had to return due to a problem with the plane's hydraulic systems.
The plane landing was aborted twice as a major storm hit the UK with winds hitting 130km/h. Fire crews raced to Farnborough Airport, Hants; The Sun reported.
The report also quoted a witness who claimed that the incident was ‘horrible’. “The jet was being buffeted and couldn’t land. It was horrible to see,” they said.
The superstar singer was shaken by the ordeal - but hours later caught another flight to the US in time for a gig last night.
His nail-biting drama began shortly after the £66million jet left the airport, for New York at 10.20 am.
The recent incident unfolded about an hour into the trip as the aircraft suffered hydraulic failure and the pilot had to turn back while approaching the coast of southern Ireland. The plane headed back to Farnborough and radioed air traffic control to declare an emergency landing.
Shortly, Ambulance crews and police were alerted at 11:19 am and Firefighters from six stations rushed to the scene and the runway was cleared. Plumber Philip Thomson was working when the singer’s jet, adorned with a huge “E”, loomed into view – as Storm Franklin’s fierce winds battered the UK.
The airport fell silent as word got around the twin-jet Bombardier Global Express was in trouble.
Plumber Philip Thomson told The Sun: “The terrible weather and epic gusts made it almost impossible to land. Two attempts to touch down failed. The plane was being buffeted and couldn't make it. The aircraft's nose was far too vertical. The plane was descending and was halfway along the runway when it gave up trying to hit the tarmac. It soared back in the air. A crowd had gathered after word went around that Elton was in difficulty. And as the plane came around again for a second attempt to land, the storm was doing its worst.”
He added that the pilot made two attempts to land but the stormy conditions made it too difficult.
The eyewitness said the plane landed on the third attempt and that he “wouldn't have swapped places with Elton”.
Image Source: Instagram/ Elton John
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