A PASSENGER has spoken of his moment of terror when a light aircraft's engine exploded as the plane was flying home Manchester City directors from a Premiership football match.

Chris Bailey, a former Bury Times journalist who is now a sports writer in Manchester, was travelling with City board members after the club's game at Portsmouth on Saturday.

Just 10 minutes after the aircraft took off from Southampton Airport, an engine on the Eastern Airways jet exploded, causing the plane to lurch violently to one side and lose height rapidly.

The BA Jetstream plane's pilot, John Morris, was forced to make an emergency landing on an airstrip in Farnborough.

The 14-strong party on the plane included City chairman John Wardle and Maine Road legend Dennis Tueart.

Mr Bailey, aged 44, of Whitefield, admitted today he feared for his life.

He said: "It was terrifying. We were just 10 minutes into the flight, everything seemed fine and they were just about to serve sandwiches.

"The noise from the initial explosion was the loudest thing I have ever heard. We were losing height very quickly and the side of the plane where the engine exploded dipped.

"It's fair to say that people on the plane were very concerned about their safety. From where I was, I could see the pilot fighting to control the plane. It's only a very small plane.

"Captain Morris was terrific in putting the fire out and then taking us down to Farnborough where the emergency services were waiting."

Mr Bailey said the terrifying incident had put football into perspective.

"We're more guilty than anyone for elevating these players to heroes," he said. "But there was only one hero on Saturday and that was Captain Morris."

Mr Bailey worked for the Bury Times, sister paper of the Bolton Evening News, for around 15 years between 1980 and 1995 before joining the Manchester Evening News.

The City players and manager Kevin Keegan travelled back to the North-west separately.