Elton John caught in terrifying mid-air emergency as his private jet suffers hydraulic failure

Elton John was caught in terrifying mid-air drama as his £66million Bombardier Global Express private jet suffered hydraulic failure at 10,000ft.

His plane attempted to land twice at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire on Monday when winds hit 80mph during Storm Franklin.

Fire crews raced to the scene and the singer, 74, was left shaken by the incident, with a source telling The Sun: ‘The jet was being buffeted and couldn’t land. It was horrible to see.’

However, Elton later hopped on a plane to the United States to ensure he was in the country in time for his performance at at Madison Square Garden as part of his global Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.

The ordeal begun soon after the aircraft left Farnborough bound for New York at 10.20am.

An hour into the journey, the jet suffered hydraulic failure and the pilot turned back as they approached the south coast of Ireland.

Dramatic: His plane attempted to land twice at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire on Monday when winds hit 80mph during Storm Franklin (pictured in January)

As they headed back to Hampshire, an emergency landing was declared with ambulance crews and police alerted at 11.19am.

Firefighters from six stations raced to the airport and the runway was cleared.

Plumber Philip Thomson told The Sun: ‘The terrible weather and epic gusts made it almost impossible to land. Two attempts to touch down failed.

Return to safety: An hour into the journey, the jet suffered hydraulic failure and the pilot turned back as they approached the south coast of Ireland (pictured 2020)

‘The plane was being buffeted and couldn’t make it. The aircraft’s nose was far too vertical. The plane was descending and was halfway along the runway when it gave up trying to hit the tarmac. It soared back in the air.

‘A crowd had gathered after word went around that Elton was in difficulty. And as the plane came around again for a second attempt to land, the storm was doing its worst.’

He added that the pilot made two attempts to land but the stormy conditions made it too difficult.

The eyewitness said the plane landed on the third attempt and that he ‘wouldn’t have swapped places with Elton’.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Elton for comment. 

Jet set: The ordeal began soon after the aircraft left Farnborough bound for New York at 10.20am where he is due to perform on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour