William and Kate's jet dramatically forced to turn around near Islamabad after being hit by powerful storm

Robert Jobson17 October 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were today involved in a jet drama when their RAF Voyager had to turn around after it was hit by a powerful storm.

The royal couple, on the penultimate day of their Pakistan tour, were due to land in Islamabad after a successful day of engagements visiting a mosque, playing cricket and visiting a hospital that William’s late mother had been to.

But with ten minutes to go the jet was hit by serious turbulence.

Evening Standard Royal Editor Robert Jobson, who was on board, said he had "never experienced turbulence like it" and added the plane was "dropping and rolling".

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Pakistan - In pictures

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The RAF captain made an announcement saying “Your Royal Highnesses and ladies and gentlemen” and explained that he had to turn back to Lahore.

He had tried to land at a Pakistani base at Rawalpindi and also at the international airport.

He aborted both landings attempts and then set a course. The captain decided against the landings because they were "ruled to be unsafe".

William and Kate, their household, British high commission staff and travelling accredited media were on the jet.

William came back from his section of the plane to check on the media, who were sitting further back. He joked "it was me flying the plane" which drew laughs from the press.

The rest of the royal tour is now uncertain.

The plane is on the tarmac in Lahore and is expected to remain there for two hours. A decision about what to do next will then be made.

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