Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We had a ruff flight3
Duchess thanks RAF pilots after ‘adventure’ in a thunderstorm
THE Duchess of Cambridge is happy to be back on solid ground, as she walks a puppy in Pakistan after a frightening mid-air drama.
Kate praised the skill of their RAF pilots after a sudden mid-air thunderstorm led to two aborted landings.
She and William were returning from Lahore to the capital Islamabad on board the RAF Voyager when severe thunder and lightning struck.
On the last day of their Pakistan tour, Kate said: “It was quite an adventure really, it was pretty bumpy up there.
“We were looked after so wonderfully by the RAF who did a great job liaising with everyone and got us home safely, so we are hugely grateful.”
The plane had to turn back to Lahore on Thursday evening after trying to land in turbulence that passengers described as “the worst ever”.
After landing safely, William had joked to the travelling media, “I was flying,” in reference to his time as an air ambulance pilot. The couple had an unplanned night at the Pearl Continental in the Punjab city, surprising guests at the five-star hotel.
Royal aides and diplomats hurriedly re-arranged the couple’s schedule, reluctantly cancelling a visit to a military post on the Afghan border and a helicopter flight over the Khyber pass.
During a visit to an army dog training centre in Islamabad, they walked two golden labrador pups, called Sky and Salto.
British troops are supporting the Pakistan Counter Improvised Explosive Device programme, which breeds dogs and trains them in detection.
Prince William said: “The week has really brought home the importance of the relationship between the UK and Pakistan.”
The party returned to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last night.