A flight from Ibiza to the UK which burst into flames and repeatedly backfired after takeoff this week has left British holidaymakers traumatised. The Jet2 Boeing 738 had just set off on its journey to Manchester when there was an explosion, causing one engine to set on fire.

Carrying 186 people, the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Majorca, but only after passengers had endured nearly 80 minutes of terror. Writing about the experience online after arriving home safely, one flyer described the incident as the most terrifying experience of her life, while the other described how she heard noises and looked out of the window to see flames lapping from the engine.

The commotion was even heard by many people sunning themselves on Ibiza beach. Videos of the incident were even filmed on mobile phones, showing bright flames shooting from the aircraft as loud backfiring noises bellow. The plane continued to splutter in this way until the pilots were forced to shut them down and divert the plane to Palma.

A tourist witness described how she heard a loud popping noise and saw the flames from the beach in Figueretas. Jey2 released a statement confirming that flight LS170 was diverted after a technical problem, and landed 77 minutes after takeoff. There are no reports of serious injury, but it is thought that several passengers suffered panic attacks during the ordeal.