Ruth Davidson in mid-air drama as helicopter door flies open, forcing “emergency set-down”

A helicopter tour by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson had an unexpected touchdown.

While flying over the Aberdeenshire countryside between Peterhead and Keith one of the doors slid open.

Far from being shaken by the experience, the Conservative leader brushed off the mid-air scare as nothing more than a “wobble”.

She said: “The back door opened mid-flight, the one closest to me. We had to have a little bit of an emergency set-down in a field and got back up again.

“I think I was probably the calmest one in the helicopter. The journalist grabbed on to me. I just said ‘I’m strapped in lads, it’s fine,’ and told the pilot the door was open, can we shut it.”

The Conservative crew’s schedule was delayed as a result of the unscheduled landing in a field but, unperturbed, they carried on with their engagements.

There was only space for four passengers and a pilot on the diminutive helicopter that was used for the tour.

Ms Davidson’s helicopter woes did not end there though as a planned visit to Oban was called off due to bad weather.