Emergency declared on Jet2 flight from Liverpool Airport

Flight LS3251, operated by a Boeing 737-800, took off on schedule at 8 am but stopped climbing at 15,000 feet around 11 minutes into the flight.

The crew transmitted squawk 7700, the international emergency code, before turning away from its planned route.

The aircraft initially held north of Liverpool before the crew elected to divert to Manchester Airport rather than return to Liverpool.

The flight is expected to land safely at around 9:05 am.

The reason for the emergency has not yet been confirmed by Jet2 or airport authorities.