A Royal Air Force Tornado bomber made an emergency landing at Malta International Airport this evening after suffering hydraulic problems.

Informed sources said flames were seen around its landing gear due to overheating during the landing.

The plane stopped safely on the runway at about 9 p.m., blocking it until it could be towed away. Fire engines were deployed.

A Primera Air flight from Stockholm to Malta was diverted to Catania because of the blocked runway. Other aircraft used the secondary runway.

The Tornado was involved in an operation over Libya.

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