United Airlines plane makes 'emergency landing' at Heathrow amid reports of smoke in the cabin

 A United Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport folloing reports of smoke in the cabin.

Emergency services rushed to the United Airlines flight UA949 after it landed back at the airport and reportedly stopped the aircraft on the taxiway.

The plane had been due to fly to San Francisco and was over Milton Keynes when it was forced to make an emergency landing.

The Boeing 777-200 aircraft then made a U-turn to make an emergency landing back at the airport, where it was escorted to the gate by three fire engines.

Heathrow Airport confirmed the plane landed safely and there was no wider impact on operations.

United Airlines has been contacted for comment. 

Jerry Dyer from Big Jet TV, who was filming at Heathrow when the plane returned back to the airport, told Metro that there was no smoke when the place landed ‘safely.’

The United Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport this afternoon

Police and fire crews stopped the aircraft on the taxiway shortly after landing

The steps were taken to the aircraft shortly after it landed to allow passengers to leave the plane

The plane made a U-turn  over Milton Keynes shortly after taking off from Heathrow Airport

He said the plane had used a general emergency code, which could be anything from ‘minor technical issues to a problem with a passengers like a health issue.’

Jerry praised the emergency services, the plane crew and Heathrow for their response, saying the fire engines and ambulances were already on the tarmac as a precaution.