Flight KU104: Kuwait airways passenger aeroplane declares 'emergency' over English Channel

The A300 Airbus aeroplane has now landed 'safely' in London Heathrow

The Airbus A300 can carry more than 200 passengers (Getty)

A Kuwait Airways plane has declared an "emergency" over the English Channel and returned to London Heathrow airport.

Flight KU104, en route to Kuwait, is believed to have encountered problems and turned around about 30km of the coast.

A spokesperson for Heathrow airport confirmed the plane had landed safely but the airport could not release any information on what may have caused the flight to turn back.

It is believed the plane has been in service since 1992. The model can generally carry 266 passengers and is most frequently used for short to medium-range flights.

The A300 Airbus is one of five used by the international carrier, based in Kuwait. The company has flown to 34 international locations since November 2013.

This story will be updated shortly.