Boris Johnson's plane forced to make emergency landing at Luton airport

The new Foreign Secretary has had a baptism of fire in his first week

Mr Johnson was travelling to Brussels (Reuters)

A plane carrying Boris Johnson was forced to make an emergency landing at Luton airport on Sunday evening.

The Foreign Secretary was travelling on board an RAF passenger jet to Brussels, for the first foreign trip he has been on since his appointment.

The aircraft began experiencing mechanical difficulties, possibly with the hydraulics.

All other flights were temporarily grounded while the issue was investigated. Eyewitnesses at the airport reported seeing numerous emergency services vehicles in the area around the time of the incident.

Some other passengers at the airport claimed their flights were delayed by the incident.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “There was a technical issue on the RAF flight on Sunday afternoon carrying the Foreign Secretary and his officials from London to Brussels that required the aircraft to land at Luton Airport.

“The Foreign Secretary thanked the RAF crew for their professionalism and was grateful to Luton Airport for the brief, unscheduled welcome.

“After a short delay the Foreign Secretary continued on his way to Brussels by alternative means.”

Boris Johnson has had a baptism of fire in his new post, which he was only assigned to on 13 July. Since then, his office had to respond to the Nice atrocity in France, an apparent terrorist attack which killed at least 84 people and injured many more.

The following day, factions of the Turkish military attempted a coup against the government of President Erdogan. More than 200 people were killed in a night of violence which – despite its failure – will likely have long lasting ramifications for politics in Turkey, a country of huge strategic importance.