At 2:30pm this afternoon, an unverified social media account reported a US Airways airplane that crashed on the Thames after a reported engine failure caused by a drone collision.

The X – formally known as Twitter – user @thamestweets posted a photo of the passenger aircraft at 2:30pm today, prompting emergency services in all surrounding areas to immediately respond after the posts verified by officials.

The pilot reported engine failure minutes after take off from London City Airport (LCY) this afternoon before being forced to attempt to land on the River Thames due to lack of engine power to return to LCY. Emergency services from Kent and Essex immediately responded, as well as RNLI and Thames police.

All passengers and crew were successfully rescued by RNLI boats towing the life rafts safely back to shore. One passenger was rushed to Queens Hospital in Romford after a suspected heart attack.

Nicole Johnson, a passenger on board the flight to Amsterdam, reported her thanks to the pilot via social media for getting the plane down in ‘one piece’.

Once ashore, the passengers were taken to Purfleet Heritage and Military centre where they were given food and water, as well as Wifi access and phones to call relatives. They are now currently being transported back to London City Airport where they continue with their onward journey.

It is currently unknown whose drone collided with the plane engine. The aircraft is currently being recovered from the Thames and will be taken for further examination and inspection by experts.