McCreery's French mission aborted after plane carrying US troops catches fire

Willie McCreery's trip to France with the exciting Up Helly Aa was stalled at Shannon airport on Thursday morning after flights were suspended due to a plane carrying US military personnel catching fire before take-off.

Emergency services attended the scene at around 6:30am and all passengers and crew were taken off the plane, a Boeing 767-300.

Air traffic controllers noticed fire and smoke coming from the landing gear of the Omni Air International jet as it taxied along the runway, and those travelling with the horse even spotted the plane on fire.

Up Helly Aa, who finished second in the Group 3 Meld Stakes last time on his third start, is arguably the most promising horse in McCreery's stable and was a leading fancy for the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras du Logis Saint-Germain at Deauville.

McCreery said: "It's obviously disappointing for everyone involved because we were looking forward to running him, and it's particularly a shame for the Niarchos family.

"They haven't yet had the chance to see the horse when he's run in Ireland so far and they were going to see him today at Deauville."

The trainer added: "The horse had got to the airport this morning and actually someone said just as we were driving in that they spotted a plane that seemed to be on fire. Thankfully, nobody's hurt and we'll be looking forward to the next day."

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