A Ryanair flight carrying 200 passengers was forced to turn back to London when duct tape that was securing the cockpit windscreen tore off.

The Sun reports passengers watched the Irish budget airline's ground staff apply the tape to the edge of the windscreen shortly before takeoff.

The flight was aborted when the tape became loose and made disturbing noises shortly after departing from London's Stansted Airport.

Ryanair insists their crew followed procedure, and that there was no danger to passengers or crew.

Passenger on the flight, Anthony Neal, 33 said, "We were in the sky, then the pilot said due to damage on the windscreen, we were going to have to turn back."

"We were kept in the dark, and were terrified" he said.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said the tape was being used as an extra precaution to secure a new window seal and that it had completed its investigation into the incident.

A Ryanair spokesman said "We do not comment on routine technical issues. All Ryanair flights operate in accordance with approved safety standards."