A JUMBO jet packed with service personnel returning from Iraq was involved in a landing incident at a North-East airport yesterday.

The Boeing 747 - chartered by the Ministry of Defence to bring hundreds of men and women home from the Gulf - hit trouble when two tyres burst as the plane touched down.

After the plane landed at Teesside Airport at 1.40pm, ambulances and eight fire appliances, from County Dur-ham and Darlington and Cleveland Brigades, were put on stand-by.

The jet had to wait on the runway to be given the all clear before the 320 military personnel were allowed off.

Most were believed to be soldiers from the First King's Own Regiment, based at Catterick Garrison, and the 38 Engineers, based at Ripon, both North Yorkshire, although some RAF and Navy servicemen were also on board.

Seven coaches were waiting to take them back to their bases.

One family waiting at the airport to catch a glimpse of their son and brother, said they had not been aware there was any problem with the plane until some time after it had landed.

Julie Stou, who was waiting to see her brother, Corporal Neil Close, 31, from Peterlee, County Durham, who is in the 38 Engineers, said: "We didn't realise about the punctures until the airport manager came and told us what had happened.

"We saw the fire engines but we knew everything was all right."

Her sister Melanie said that Cpl Close had been in Iraq, serving in Basra, for the past five months.

"We don't really know what he's been doing out there. We just love him to bits. We are so proud of him and so pleased he is home," she said.

An RAF spokesman said: "Two tyres burst on landing, the pilot informed the control towers and the fire engines were sent out.

"There was never any danger to the personnel on board. There was no problem landing the plane, but we had to take the necessary precautions in calling the emergency services. They were stood down as soon as it was clear there was no danger."

It was the second incident emergency services attended at the airport yesterday, after a Tornado F3 fighter jet on a training exercise had to land due to possible fuel problems.

The RAF spokesman said: "There was no immediate danger, it was a precautionary measure. RAF Leeming dispatched engineers to check the aircraft."