A COUPLE today spoke of a horror flight home with their grandchildren after they claimed passengers saw a chunk of wing break free from their holiday jet.

And Mary Jones, 59, who finally arrived back at Venice Avenue, Burnley, yesterday, after being delayed for 17 hours said: "It was a nightmare.''

She and her husband, Bill, 69, had taken their grandchildren, Melissa, six, and Charlotte, four, on a week's sunshine holiday to Turkey.

They were returning on Airtours flight AIH224 when the incident happened, forcing an emergency landing.

Mrs Jones said: "We should have left Izmir at 2pm, Tuesday. We were told there was a technical fault and were held up for two and a half hours.

"After we eventually lifted off there was a lot of shuddering on the plane and later a young lad said there were bits falling off the wing. He called a stewardess who just stood gawping.

"The captain then told us we were landing at Istanbul. There was no panic. Everyone was calm and collected. I don't think most people realised what was going on.''

Mrs Jones added: "I did not see anything when I was on the plane but when I got off I noticed a gaping hole in the wing.''

Mrs Jones said the passengers were taken into an upstairs room at the airport where they stayed throughout the night.

After being given a cold drink and a bread roll they were left sitting around until 3am when cups of tea, coffee and light snacks were made available.

She said: "It was only then that someone told us they were bringing another plane from Manchester to take us home.

"It was horrible just waiting for hour after hour. The children were tired and upset and we were all being bitten by mosquitoes.''

"We should have landed at Manchester at 4.30pm but didn't get back until nearly 8.30am the following morning.''

A spokesman for Airtours at Rossendale said that shortly after take-off the plane developed vibrations resulting from minor damage to the leading edge flat of the wing.

As a result the aircraft made a precautionary landing at Istanbul.

"There was never any danger to the passengers, crew or the aircraft,'' the spokesman said.

"Because Istanbul is not one of the Airtours holiday destinations, and because hotels were already full as a result of an international convention, it was not possible to find accommodation for the passengers.

"An English speaking agent went to the airport as quickly as possible and explained the situation."

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