Two United States Air Force (USAF) fighter jets diverted to Shannon Airport this afternoon after one declared an emergency over the North Atlantic.
It’s understood one the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagles experienced a ‘fuel issue’ and sought to divert to Shannon and requested priority clearance. A second jet accompanied the emergency aircraft en route to Shannon.
Shannon Airport’s Fire and Rescue Service was alerted, and crews were mobilised to holding points adjacent to Shannon’s runway.
The Irish Coast Guard was also alerted and the RNLI lifeboats based at Inis Mór in the Aran Islands and Kilrush, Co Clare on the Shannon Estuary were also placed on standby.
The first of the two jets landed safely at 4.34pm following soon afterwards by the second aircraft. Fire crews remained at their holding points and didn’t follow the jets down the runway.
The two aircraft taxied to a remote parking stand at the airport.
