PASSENGERS were left terrified when their plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport today.

Flight BA762 had only been in the air for minutes when a "technical fault" occurred and it was forced to return to the London airport.

The 75 passengers were flying from London to Oslo when their ordeal happened this morning.

Dramatic footage of the landing shows smoke billowing out of one of the British Airways Airbus A319's engines while it is still in the air.

It is understood the aircraft may have run into a flock of birds.

BA762 was scheduled to take off from Heathrow to Oslo at 7.55am today.

Airport officials initially shut both runways but later reopened the southern strip.

Emergency vehicles surrounded the plane and emergency chutes could be seen being deployed.

Meanwhile, witnesses under the flight path saw flames and smoke coming from the plane as it came in to land over London.

One man, who was working in a garden, said: "It was very low and horrendous to watch. It's the kind of thing you see seconds from disaster."

A spokesman for British Airways, said: "The BA762, Heathrow to Oslo service, returned back to Heathrow shortly after take-off due to a technical fault.

"The Airbus A319 aircraft was carrying 75 customers.

"The aircraft landed safely and emergency slides were deployed and we are currently caring for our customers.

"Emergency services attended the aircraft.

"We will be carrying out a full investigation into the incident."

London Fire Brigade confirmed a crew from Heathrow Fire Station had assisted Heathrow Airport's own fire service with "an aircraft fire". A spokesman added: "We believe the fire is now out."

A Heathrow spokesman said all of the passengers have been "safely evacuated" and "accounted for".

He added the airport itself remained open, despite the closure of the runway.

rebecca.gray@eveningtimes.co.uk