- Foreign Office said there was a 'technical issue' with Royal Air Force plane
- It suffered problem with hydraulic system and fire engines were deployed
- The ministry said Johnson 'thanked the RAF crew for their professionalism'
- New Foreign Secretary continued to Brussels by other means for first trip
A small military aircraft carrying newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has had to make an emergency landing on its way to Brussels.
The plane, which took off from RAF Northolt, was forced to land at Luton Airport following a "technical issue", a Foreign Office spokesman said.
Mr Johnson thanked the crew for their professionalism and was grateful to Luton Airport for the unscheduled welcome, the spokesman added.
He has later continued his journey.
The delay means Mr Johnson will be late for an informal dinner with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, but the pair intend to meet later in the evening,
'Flights disrupted'
A spokesman for Luton Airport said all 16 passengers on board the plane left the aircraft safely, but the runway was disrupted for more than 30 minutes.
"Several scheduled flights were disrupted whilst the runway was cleared," he added.
Johnson, who helped lead the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, was appointed by new Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.
His appointment triggered near uproar in European capitals, and he was booed at the French ambassador's Bastille Day party in London.
The event on Thursday was his first engagement in the role.
He later had to respond to the Nice terror attack and the failed coup attempt in Turkey in an eventful first week in the role.
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini was due to welcome the former mayor of London on Sunday 'for an initial contact' before he sets about rebuilding relationships with his counterparts during meetings on Monday.
He will meet EU officials in Brussels for the first time since the referendum result.
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