In a statement, the Airline says all 16 guests were briefed and looked after by the Fiji Link crew on Lakeba and will be flown to Suva on a supplementary flight.

Fiji Link flight FJ 140 from Lakeba to Suva had to return shortly after take-off yesterday morning, after an emergency window on the aircraft opened.

Airline spokesperson says the flight crew, following safety protocols, immediately acted to return the aircraft to Lakeba, landing at 11.47am.

In a statement, the Airline says all 16 guests were briefed and looked after by the Fiji Link crew on Lakeba and will be flown to Suva on a supplementary flight.

The cause of the incident is currently being investigated.

Fiji Airways engineers will carry out remedial work on the aircraft in Lakeba before it is brought back to the airline’s facilities in Nadi.

It says the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji has been informed in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The aircraft is a Viking Twin Otter DHC-6 Series 400. It was manufactured in July 2017 and joined Fiji Link in February 2018.