An engine fire which forced an aircraft to make an emergency landing was caused by an oil supply failure, accident investigators have found.
The Flybe aircraft flying from Glasgow to Belfast City airport on December 16, 2014 made an emergency landing when its left engine caught fire.
Some of the 76 passengers sustained minor injuries while evacuating the Dash 8 turboprop after it diverted to Belfast international airport.
The fire was extinguished by fire crews at the airport.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said a cracked washer on one of the aircraft’s engines became loose, causing the oil pump to fail.
This resulted in the engine overheating and a fire starting.
The pilots noticed a warning light and audio warning during the flight to Belfast City.
After feeling a “judder through the airframe” they began to turn the aircraft back towards Glasgow.
Passengers and cabin crew heard three “whooshing” noises and saw a large blue flame coming from the engine, according to the AAIB report.
“Sparks and other evidence of a fire could also be seen originating from behind the left engine cowlings, just aft of the propeller,” the report said.
After a fire warning sounded again, the pilots diverted to Belfast international airport.
The report said some passengers had to jump to the ground after the emergency landing because rear exits were not equipped with slides.
A number fell, receiving “minor cuts and bruises” but there were no serious injuries.