AN emergency was declared after a bird hit a plane engine just minutes into a flight leaving Leeds Bradford Airport.

The Jet2 service from the airport in Yeadon to Palma de Mallorca, in Spain got into trouble after a "bird strike" following take off on Saturday.

A bird hit number two engine and was causing "severe vibration", according to a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS).

They added that there were "no known hazards on board".

The flight - carrying 140 people, including 135 passengers and five crew members - took off as scheduled, at around 4.39pm.

It was due to arrive in Palma de Mallorca at 6.25pm but the plane never made it out the UK, or above 10,000 feet.

The Boeing 737 plane began to climb towards that figure heading towards Manchester, but at roughly 4.47pm, and at 9,500 feet, it began to turn back towards LBA, according to FlightRadar24.

It went beyond the airport and circled twice, before beginning a third, much wider loop at around 5.12pm.

Just four minutes later a full emergency was declared, when the plane was at 7,350 feet and 10 minutes away from landing.

A spokesperson for WYFRS said: "Full emergency declared for a 737 heavy with 140 persons on board. 

"This aircraft has suffered a bird strike on number 2 engine and is suffering severe vibration - no hazards known on board.

"The aircraft is 10 mins ETA landing runway at Leeds Bradford Airport.

"Crews from across West Yorkshire were deployed."

FlightRadar24 shows the plane landed back at LBA at around 5.40pm.

WYFRS confirmed at 5.52pm that the aircraft had "landed safely" with "no injuries reported".

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) and West Yorkshire Police were also on hand at the scene.

A spokesperson for WYFRS said: "The aircraft has now landed safely with 135 passengers on board plus 5 crew.

"The plane has been inspected and will return to stand, with WYFRS crews following along with airport f/service crews.

"No injuries reported.

"Yorkshire Ambulance Service and West Yorkshire Police were in attendance."

Jet2 confirmed this lunchtime that the flight returned to LBA as a "precautionary measure" and those on board were taken to a replacement aircraft to head off on their holiday.

A spokesperson for the company said: “We can confirm that flight LS227 returned to Leeds Bradford Airport on Saturday 10th August as a precautionary measure.

"The aircraft landed safely and customers were transferred onto a replacement aircraft to continue their journey.

"We do of course apologise for the delay to the start of their holidays."

The fire service declared the incident closed at 6.04pm.

It comes after LBA unveiled a new ambitious strategy to create thousands of new jobs and contribute nearly £1bn to the local economy.

Hailed as a "new era of travel" the ‘Vision 2030’ strategy highlights ambitions to secure more routes to European hub airports with onward connectivity, as well as new destinations in the North Atlantic and Middle East.

The strategy signals plans for £200 million of private sector investment to improve passenger experience and drive sustainable growth over the coming decade.

It also includes increasing terminal floorspace by 38 per cent, as well as making investments in the existing airfield to create up to 10 new aircraft stands for overnight LBA-based aircraft.

The environment is at the forefront of the project too, with plans to decarbonise transport links, invest in on-site solar-powered infrastructure, and establish more EV charging facilities.

The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Jet2, LBA, West Yorkshire Police, and YAS for comment.