A Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet has been forced to return to Manchester Airport after it developed a mid-flight 'technical issue'.

The Thomson Boeing 787 Dreamliner departed from the airport for Sanford in Orlando, Florida, this afternoon.

It was later spotted on a plane-tracking website circling over north Wales, understood to be dumping fuel.

The luxury jet later returned to Manchester Airport and landed safely tonight.

A spokesman for Thomson said the return to Manchester was a precaution and passengers were being moved to an alternative aircraft.

The airline said the incident was not connected to a fire on a parked Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner at London Heathrow today.

Runways at Heathrow were closed and all arrivals and departures were suspended after the incident at 4.30pm. No passengers were aboard at the time.

Fifty Dreamliners worldwide were grounded in January because of battery malfunctions.

The first passenger flight by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet from Manchester Airport took off earlier this month.

In a statement, the airline said: “Thomson Airways can confirm that flight TOM126 travelling from Manchester to Sanford, Florida, experienced a technical issue and the aircraft returned to Manchester Airport, as a precautionary measure.

“Passengers have disembarked and our dedicated team of engineers are now inspecting the aircraft.

“Our customers will be moved to an alternative aircraft to ensure they get away on their holiday as soon as possible. The safety of our customers and crew is of paramount importance and we would like to apologise for the delay caused.

The Dreamliner landed at Manchester Airport in May, and the first passenger flights took off earlier this month. Take a look at the gallery and video below on the day it made its first appearance at Manchester:

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