Hundreds of troops are stuck at an airbase in Oxfordshire following “technical malfunctions” on two RAF planes.
Soldiers and Marines heading out to Helmand Province, in Afghanistan, on board a Tristar troop carrier returned to base at RAF Brize Norton twice yesterday, only hours into their flight.
Hundreds more hoping for a return trip are stuck in Kandahar in Afghanistan because of an aircraft fault.
Investigations into both Tristar plans have begun and Press Association is reporting up to 1,000 troops may be affected.
Flt Lt Mark Concarr, duty air movements officer at Brize Norton, said: “The aircraft suffered a technical malfunction that is under investigation.
“An aircraft going out and returning on this schedule is very unusual.
“We do problems but generally speaking the air bridge is a success.”
He said the Tristar grounded at Kandahar was also being investigated for a fault but was available for “tasking”.
It is believed a flights are due to restart later today.
The Ministry of Defence was unavailable to comment.
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