Virgin flight from Manchester to New York cancelled moments before take off after passenger notices problem with bolts on wing

A Virgin Atlantic flight from Manchester Airport to New York was cancelled moments before take off after a passenger noticed a problem with bolts on the wing.

The VS127 flight, to John F Kennedy International Airport, was stopped from taking off on Monday (January 15) to give engineers time to carry out 'maintenance checks' and inspections on the aircraft after it was discovered the tops of four fasteners were missing from a panel on the wing.

A passenger had noticed the problem and informed cabin crew on board. Specialist engineers attended and the flight was cancelled as a 'precautionary measure' and for the relevant checks to be undertaken.

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It is understood that each of the wing panels on the Airbus A330 has 119 fasteners, and that the four tops that were missing 'did not impact the structural integrity of the wing, the load capability of the wing or the ability of the aircraft to operate safely.'

The panel is a secondary structure panel that is used to improve the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft. However, the long-haul transatlantic flight was still cancelled as a 'precautionary measure' and to give engineers time to fully carry out the relevant checks. The missing tops of the fasteners were later replaced.

The airline said the safety of customers and the crew on board is its 'top priority' and that this 'was not compromised at any point'. It added that it 'always works well above industry safety standards' and that the aircraft is now back in service. Passengers on board were still flown to JFK after being placed on alternate flights.

The cancellation came just days after a different Virgin Atlantic flight to Barbados made an emergency