BREAKING: Plane makes emergency return to Dublin Airport after 'loud bangs and visible flames'

An Aer Lingus flight bound for Orlando, Florida was forced to make an emergency return to Dublin Airport on Tuesday afternoon shortly after take-off.

Flight EI121 / EIN12W experienced a compressor stall shortly after take-off after passengers reported hearing loud bangs and seeing "visible flames in the left engine." Initial reports had claimed it was an engine fire which was since found not to be the case. 

The plane has now safely landed back in Dublin Airport where it was escorted to stand by Dublin Airport Fire Service. 

Emergency - Suspected Engine fire

I have received word that EI121 / EIN12W has an engine fire just after takeoff, the aircraft is now making an emergency return to Dublin.
There are reportedly Loud bangs and visible flames in the left engine.

I will update when able to- i… pic.twitter.com/rZ6JzKGP35

— Shauns_Aviation✈️ (@Shauns_Aviation) February 11, 2025

The popular aviation account on X, Shauns_Aviation, posted about the incident online shortly after it was reported. One passenger on board the flight responded to the post to say: "I'm on the flight. Loads of loud bangs on take off. Landed now."

The passenger added: "Was my son that pointed out the flames from the engine. Don't think many realised what happened. Everyone was quite calm."

Other people have reacted online to the "nightmare situation", with many saying they could hear the bangs from the plane on the ground. One person said: "Heard a loud bang around Dunshaughlin around that time didn't know what it was." Another shared: "Could hear it going bang bang bang when over head."

When asked if this was a common occurrence for planes, Shauns_Aviation replied: "Very uncommon, I can't recall the last time this happened."

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