A Ballyclare man whose plane was towing gliders into the air at a Co Londonderry gliding club had a lucky escape yesterday when his light aircraft was seen to shed part of its landing gear.

After the wheel dropped off, he alerted City of Derry Airport (pictured) who turned out the emergency services which were standing by as his plane landed safely, before keeling to one side due to the missing wheel.

That incident was the second close call as two people also had a lucky escape after their light aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in a field in Co Tyrone.

The plane landed around midday on Sunday in a field close to the Pomeroy Road in Dungannon after experiencing difficulties during the flight.

However the pilot and passenger are understood to have escaped serious injury in the crash close to the rural Ballynakilly Road near Cookstown.

They were taken to Craigavon Area Hospital where their condition last night was described as "stable".

Six fire appliances and an ambulance were at the scene shortly after the aircraft came down.

Assistant Group Commander of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Fergal Leonard said the aircraft did not ignite.

He said they used the fuel switches to isolate the fuel, however as one of the fuel pipes was leaking the fire fighters used foam to prevent a fire starting.

(BMcC/JM)