M1 closed near East Midlands Airport after Jet2 plane declares emergency

Police closed the motorway in both directions near East Midlands Airport to allow "a clear flight path" for the Jet2 plane.

Traffic was stopped between J23a and J24 for about 20 minutes after the emergency was declared.

East Midlands Airport said the closure was "precautionary" after a Jet2 flight with 153 people on board alerted them to a suspected malfunction.

A spokeswoman for Jet2 said flight number LS670 called for assistance on its approach to the airport after the pilot noticed a "fault indication".

A spokeswoman for Jet2 said a flight from Gran Canaria, not pictured, called for assistance on its approach to land

She said the flight landed safely before being inspected on Saturday evening. The motorway was closed from about 21.30pm.

Highways England, which manages the motorway, tweeted to alert motorists to the "aircraft emergency" and that police had stopped traffic.

In 1989 a Belfast-bound British Midland flight crashed on the M1 near Kegworth, Leicestershire, killing 47 people, as it diverted to East Midlands Airport.