Dramatic moment fire erupts near passenger jet on runway at Scots airport
A FIRE dramatically broke out yards from a passenger jet at Edinburgh airport.
Shocking footage shared with The Scottish Sun showed a tug engulfed in flames in front of a massive plane.
A firefighter could be seen running at the scene as helpless passengers looked on in horror.
A source told us: “The fire really took hold and it was so near to the jet and its monster fuel tanks and engines.
“The blaze sparked a real panic. It is not worth thinking about what could have happened if the fire had spread to the plane.
“This was a harrowing ordeal for all involved.”
The fire, on a Swissport Ground Handling vehicle, appeared to have caught hold underneath a giant wing tip.
It was thought to have been ferrying bags to the jet from the airport terminal.
Flames stretched more than six-feet high and smoke billowed from the tug across the busy airfield as the alarm was raised amid dramatic scenes.
A support vehicle was on the scene in seconds and emergency services from outside the airport alerted.
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The safety of flights in and out of Edinburgh Airport was monitored while the incident was dealt with around 11.30am yesterday.
An immediate investigation was launched to determine the cause of the blaze - and to ensure it never happens again.
Edinburgh Airport - the sixth busiest in the UK handling 15 million passengers on airlines including easyJet and Ryanair - said the fire was dealt with “quickly and safely”.
A spokesman added: “There were no delays to our operation."
Ground services firm Swissport refused to comment.
It comes weeks after a Virgin Atlantic flight sparked a major emergency response at Edinburgh Airport.