A Ryanair flight was forced to return to Dublin airport today after the back of the aircraft hit the runway during take-off.
The airline said a "protective tailskid" at the back of the plane struck the runway as it took off at 11.40am and the pilot returned to the airport as a precaution.
A spokeswoman for the airline described it as a “tail-strike” and said it was quite common.
“As a precautionary measure the aircraft returned with oxygen masks deployed and landed safely in Dublin,” the spokeswoman said.
Ryanair said there was nothing abnormal in the emergency landing and dismissed claims some of the oxygen masks, which are concealed in overhead panels, were not working.
"All doors opened where oxygen masks were available," Ryanair said.
The Irish Aviation Authority has received an initial report on the incident from the airline and a spokeswoman said they would look into the matter further.
All 148 passengers were offered later flights out of Dublin.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Department of Transport is to carry out an investigation.
Ryanair was criticised last month after an unrelated emergency landing in France when cabin pressure suddenly dropped mid-flight.
Passengers claimed oxygen masks deployed but some did not work.
The airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary dismissed the allegations at the time.
PA