Earl and Countess of Wessex’s plane forced to make emergency landing

Jack Hardy
·2 min read
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The Earl and Countess of Wessex greeting members of the public at a Jubilee street party near Windsor Castle last week - Hollie Adams
The Earl and Countess of Wessex greeting members of the public at a Jubilee street party near Windsor Castle last week - Hollie Adams

A plane carrying the Earl and Countess of Wessex was forced to make an emergency landing as they began a controversial royal trip to Gibraltar.

The British Airways flight left London Heathrow on Tuesday bound for the Rock, but turned back to the airport just off the coast of northern France.

The decision to abort the journey was said to be due to a technical issue and the flight “landed normally" back in the UK, according to the airline.

The couple recently undertook a royal trip to the Caribbean to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Joe Giddens
The couple recently undertook a royal trip to the Caribbean to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Joe Giddens

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Earl and Countess of Wessex’s arrival in Gibraltar has been delayed slightly, after their flight was diverted safely back to the UK due to a technical issue.

“Alternative arrangements are being made for Their Royal Highnesses’ arrival in Gibraltar later today and the programme will be adjusted accordingly.

“It is hoped that elements from this afternoon will be incorporated into the rest of the programme.”

Spanish government protests over visit

It comes after the Spanish government protested to the UK over the Earl and Countess’s visit to Gibraltar.

Madrid still claims the territory as part of Spain and its future border arrangements are currently the subject of talks between Britain and the European Union.

Spanish diplomatic sources said the country’s foreign ministry had “expressed its unease” at the visit, which Spain believes “is not appropriate” against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations on post-Brexit relations with the Rock.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex are due to stay in Gibraltar from June 7 until June 9 to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The visit will include a special Queen’s Birthday Parade, during which the Royal Gibraltar Regiment will parade its new colours on home soil for the first time.

A spokesman for BA said: “Our pilots decided to return to Heathrow as a precaution due to a minor technical issue, and the aircraft landed normally.

“The issue has now been fixed and the aircraft is due to depart again shortly.”