An emergency was declared at the George Best Belfast City Airport tonight after a flight bound for Southampton experienced difficulties.
Police and the emergency services were dispatched to the airport in the east of the city and a busy dual carriageway passing the airport closed down.
An airport spokesman said the pilot of a Flybe aircraft with 54 passengers on board experienced technical difficulties and decided to return to Belfast as a precaution.
The emergency procedures were put into motion but the aircraft landed safety and the emergency was declared over shortly after, he added.