Thomson Airways flight TOM 6555 makes an emergency landing at Cardiff

Passengers were told by the pilot "this is not a drill" as the Thomson Airlines flight's landing flaps failed just as it was about to land at Cardiff Airport in the early hours of yesterday morning.

People were crying and one woman even fainted as passengers were told to take the brace position, pregnant woman were moved from their seats and those sitting in emergency exit seats were told they "may need to open" the doors but "not if the wing is on fire".

After coming in to land the plane, carrying about 200 people, pulled up again because the landing flaps - which reduce the plane's speed - were not opening. 

The pilot managed to circle the city for 20 minutes to lose fuel and then landed 20-metres from the end of the runway where fire engines were waiting.

Passenger Sarah Rees, 46, was on flight TOM6555 with her husband Tony, 48.

She told WalesOnline: "We were coming down to land and getting lower and lower when we suddenly ascended again.

“The pilot came on the loudspeaker and explained what was going on.

“He radioed Cardiff and said we were going to do an emergency landing.

“He said, ‘This is not a drill. Prepare for an emergency landing’.

“It was awful.

“There was a very real chance of dying. I was terrified."

She said lots of people were crying but it was "eerily quiet" and people were holding hands until a big cheer resounded around the plane when the pilot brought the aircraft safely onto the runway.

A spokeswoman from Thomson, said: “Thomson Airways can confirm that flight TOM6555 travelling from Tenerife to Cardiff experienced a technical issue.

“Following standard procedure, Cardiff air traffic control contacted the emergency services to meet the flight.

“The aircraft landed safely and all passengers disembarked the flight normally.

“The safety of our customers and crew is of paramount importance and we would like to reassure customers that this type of situation is extremely rare.”