A PILOT declared an emergency at Manchester Airport . . . because he had an upset stomach.

The Boeing 767 captain was flying in from India when he began to feel unwell.

Fire engines were scrambled to meet the First Choice plane, with 255 passengers on board. But the co-pilot made a safe landing.

Buses placed on stand-by to take the 255 passengers to the terminal were not needed after the captain managed to taxi the jet to its stand at Terminal 2.
An airline spokeswoman said fire crews were called to the aircraft as a precaution.

She said: "First Choice Airways confirms that the emergency services were called to meet flight FCA175 from Goa.

"This was a purely precautionary measure as the captain felt unwell with a stomach upset before landing.

"He was supported at all times by two first officers who are fully qualified to land our aircraft. However, in line with our standard operating procedures, only the captain taxis the aircraft on to its stand.

"Therefore, we requested a tug on this occasion in case he felt unable to taxi from the runway. Fire engineers were then also deployed."

She added: "We would like to stress there was no danger to the passengers or crew at any point and, in the event, the captain taxied on to the stand as usual.

"He is now undergoing a routine medical check-up."

Airport fire engines followed the plane along the runway after it touched down.

Four fire engines were also sent to the airport by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said a man was taken to hospital from the airport
suffering from suspected food poisoning.
`There was no danger to the passengers or crew at any point."

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