The US military aircraft forced to make an emergency landing at Shannon airport on Saturday after the pilot reported a problem with one of the aircraft's four engines, will remain grounded at the airport for several more days.
The C130 Hercules transport aircraft carrying 25 crew and troops was en route from a US Air Force base in Germany to another US facility in the Canadian province of Newfoundland when the pilot contacted Shannon Air Traffic Control to notify them of the emergency.
The pilot he had shut down one of the four engines and would require permission to land at Shannon. The pilot was advised that he could make an emergency landing. However, the aircraft had to dump thousands of litres of fuel before doing so.
Aviation fuel is commonly jettisoned when an aircraft is forced to make an unscheduled landing. The practice reduces the risk of fire or explosion in the event of a crash landing.
Fire and ambulance crews from Limerick, Shannon Town and Ennis rushed to Shannon as back up to the airports own emergency service however, the aircraft touched down safely at 1.15pm. It was met by a fleet of emergency vehicles which escorted it to a remote taxiway where fire crews carried out an inspection of the engine.
When the aircraft landed, the US military personnel on board could be seen standing around the aircraft wearing dessert fatigues. The aircraft is understood to be part of 124th Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard based in Boise Idaho.