A Virgin Atlantic flight had to turn around mid-air after one of the pilots was found to not have completed their training

A Virgin Atlantic plane had to return to its departure airport because one of the pilots had not finished their training.

Flight VS3 took off from London's Heathrow airport and was headed to John F. Kennedy airport in New York when it turned back over Ireland.

Sky News reported that the first officer had not completed the final assessment flight, which Virgin Atlantic requires for its own rules, though all the pilots and airline did not break any UK aviation and safety regulations.

The pilot who did not complete their training is not known.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesman told the Independent that the pilots on the plane were fully licensed and qualified, and that the safety of the flight was not compromised.

The incident was described as atering error by the spokesman.

The plane took off again after a new pilot was assigned to the flight.

The qualified first officer, who was flying alongside an experienced captain, was replaced with a new pilot to ensure full compliance with Virgin Atlantic's training protocols which exceed industry standards.

The airline apologized to customers and said passengers arrived two hours later than scheduled because of a crew change.

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority told Sky News that both pilots were qualified to do the flight.