By Graeme Strachan

A Dundee couple thought they were going to die on board a smoke-filled holiday flight to Spain as the jet made an emergency landing in Valencia after engine failure.

Doug Farquhar and Marilyn Timmons described the weekend mid-air panic which broke out on the Spanair flight from Prestwick to Alicante as the plane started to fill with smoke.

They told how they thought their “last days had come” as the 19.10 flight made an emergency landing as a full scale emergency was launched at Manises Airport in Valencia.

Fire crews, ambulances and police raced to the airport as the plane began its descent.

The drama unfolded 30 minutes before the Spanair McDonnell Douglas MD-83 jet was due to land in Alicante on Saturday. The 169 passengers heard a “loud explosion” and the aircraft began to plummet.

One of the two pilots on board flight 3374 made a “mayday” call and passengers were asked to adopt the crash position as the plane limped to a safe landing in Valencia. The incident is under investigation.

A suspected birdstrike is believed to have caused the engine failure and the jet has been withdrawn from service.

The Dundee couple were en route to Benidorm for a week-long break.

Once they arrived in the Spanish resort around 5 am, after being driven from Valencia by bus, Mr Farquhar called his brother-in-law Joe Miller of Dundee to tell him of the mid-air drama.

“Doug’s the most laid-back person you could meet,” said Mr Miller yesterday.

“Nothing bothers him—but he was clearly upset. He got a fright.

“Marilyn was crying on the phone. She is still upset.

“They thought their last days had come. They are not very well.

“They were half-an-hour away from Alicante when they heard a loud explosion and one of the engines blew out.

“The plane started to descend pretty drastically.

“Smoke was coming in the cabin through the (air) vents. It was filled up with smoke.

“People were screaming—most people thought they were away.

“They were asked to adopt the crash position. Doug said the female pilot did very well. She pulled the plane back up and was able to make an emergency landing in Valencia. Luckily, nobody was hurt.”

Mr Miller said the Dundee couple were “not looking forward” to flying home.

“We were a bit shocked and are still trying to take it in,” said Mr Miller.

“We are just so glad they are okay. We are thinking of them.”

Spanair reported the landing was completed with success and “without consequences.”

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said, “The plane was flying over Valencia when there was a loud sound and smoke entered the cabin.

“The pilot recognised something hit one of the engines and therefore decided to make an emergency landing.

“It was standard procedure and the plane landed safety. Seguro Holidays will be writing to everyone who was involved to explain what happened. We are just relieved that the pilots handled it so well.”

A spokeswoman for tour operator Seguro Holidays said, “We are looking into the incident but can’t actually comment at the moment.

“We can’t comment until we get further details.”

The drama made the headlines in the Spanish press.