Boris Fails To Make It To Brussels! Foreign Secretary’s Plane Makes Emergency Landing At Luton

Boris Johnson had a bit of a false start on his first trip as Foreign Secretary when his plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Luton Airport.

The former London Mayor, who was a surprise appointment to Theresa May’s new cabinet last week, was on his way to Brussels for a major charm offensive.

However, the small military aircraft he was flying in was struck by a “technical issue” after it took off from RAF Northolt on Sunday afternoon.

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.

Criticised: Boris Johnson was a surprise appointment to the Foreign Secretary role (Rex)

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

The Foreign Secretary, who was on his first official flight in his new role, eventually made it to Brussels by other means.

His false start was quickly jumped on by Twitter users, who last week criticised his new role after previously insulting other countries.

One wrote: “Even aircraft know that Boris Johnson travelling abroad on behalf of the country is not a good idea.”

A spokesman for Luton Airport said that “emergency procedures” were put in place during the flight, which contained 16 passengers.

Top pic: Rex