A Loganair flight out of Kirkwall this morning turned back shortly after take-off after the crew suspected an engine fault.
Flight LM031, a Saab 340, was heading towards Aberdeen with 27 passengers on board and a crew of three.
The flight left just after 7.30am.
Shortly afterwards the crew alerted Kirkwall air traffic control to the suspected engine fault.
The aircraft turned round to head back to Kirkwall where it landed safely at 8.05am.
It taxied to its usual parking stand where customers were able to disembark as normal.
A replacement aircraft was requested for customers to continue their journey to Aberdeen.
Meanwhile all emergency services were put on full alert at the airport.
The Kirkwall lifeboat was also scrambled, but stood down a little later.
The Kirkwall and St Margaret’s Hope coastal rescue teams were also scrambled and stood down without being required.
Police led the emergency response.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We were made aware of an emergency on board an aircraft shortly before 7.45am.
“The plane landed at Kirkwall Airport safely around 8.10am and police stood down after that.”
A spokesman for Loganair said: “Loganair’s pilots and crew are extensively trained for this type of rare scenario , following procedure to land safely at Kirkwall Airport.
“Customers have been transferred onto a replacement aircraft and we’d like to apologise for the disruption to their travel plans.
“Our engineering team at Kirkwall is inspecting the aircraft to detect the cause of the fault.”