Photos: Plane crash averted this morning: Engine catches fire on flight to London City Airport

A plane with 28 passengers was forced into an emergency landing after its engine caught fire just before it was due to land at London City Airport.

The twin propeller plane, which was also carrying three crew members, was mid-air when the fire broke out in one of the plane's two engines at around 8.30am. 

The aircraft, which had taken off from Jersey this morning, was due to land at London City Airport but had to be diverted to Southend Airport, Essex. 

The plane's automatic systems extinguished the fire while it was still in the air and the aircraft was able to land using one engine. Nobody was injured during the incident.

But firefighters who inspected the engine said it could have been 'an extremely serious incident'.

Divisional Officer Neil Fenwick, who attended the incident, said: 'This was a text book operation. The fire was out by the time the plane touched down and no-one appears to have been hurt.

The plane's automatic systems extinguished the fire while it was still in the air and the aircraft was able to land using one engine. Nobody was injured during the incident.

But firefighters who inspected the engine said it could have been 'an extremely serious incident'.

Divisional Officer Neil Fenwick, who attended the incident, said: 'This was a text book operation. The fire was out by the time the plane touched down and no-one appears to have been hurt.