An air crew has been severely criticised by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch for not following standard procedures during an emergency.

When smoke filled the front of a plane on its way to Liverpool from Ronaldsway, they herded passengers to the back of the craft, dangerously unbalancing it.

The 64-seat Emerald Airways ATP aircraft took off on May 23, 2005 but a broken seal allowed hydraulic fluid to fill the front of the plane.

The cabin crew rushed the 33 passengers to the back of the plane, tipping it past its centre of gravity.

Jason Roberts reports (text from attached audio file):

The plane dipped dangerously to the rear under the weight of people but the pilot managed an emergency landing at Ronaldsway despite the nose wheel steering system not working.

Air accident investigators said the cabin crew didn’t follow the prescribed actions with regard to smoke on board, did not inform the flight crew they had moved the passengers to the back, and prior to landing back at Ronaldsway airport weren't aware the nose wheel steering system was inoperative.

The AAIB described the incident as serious and said the crew put the aircraft and its occupants at unnecessary increased risk.

But there will be no action against Emerald as the CAA suspended its air operator's certificate last year and the company has ceased trading.

(Picture: An Emerald Airways ATP, from manxscenes.com).