
Britain’s Olympic heroes triumphantly arrived home from Rio 2016 today to rapturous cheering and applause on a golden-nosed plane following this country’s greatest ever overseas Games.

Double gold gymnastics medallist Max Whitlock and champion boxer Nicola Adams were the first two stars to emerge from the flight and stood at the top of the stairs as the rest of the team filed out to cheers and applause.

Friends, family and well-wishers, adorned with union flags, banners and red, white and blue balloons, waited to welcome home the Team GB heroes – and the stars were greeted with cheers, applause and screams.

Many supporters rushed to embrace their loved ones after weeks spent thousands of miles apart, and children crouched in front of the barriers clutching small British flags, desperate to glimpse the sporting stars.

With 77 champagne bottles on board and a stirring rendition on the National Anthem before take-off, there was a carnival atmosphere on board the flight on which athletes watched the film Chariots of Fire.

Scroll down for video

Delighted: Women's hockey champion Lily Owsley shows her gold medal to a two-year-old girl named Charlotte today as she arrives home from Rio 2016 with the Team GB sportsmen and women on a British Airways flight at London Heathrow Airport

Capturing the moment: Gold-winning swimmer Adam Peaty is welcomed home from Rio by his friends and family in London

Olympic weightlifter: Sonny Webster (right) of Team GB is greeted as he arrives back in London after the Rio 2016 Olympics

Emotion: Stars were greeted by cheers, applause and screams, with many supporters rushing to embrace their loved ones

Olympic hero: Hockey star Georgie Twigg (right) of Team GB is greeted as she arrives back in London after the Rio Olympics

A kiss to come home to: A Team GB member hugs and kisses a little girl after she landed at London Heathrow Airport this morning shortly before 9.50am. The team, which finished second in the medal table, received a rapturous welcome

And two-time champion Max Whitlock posed for the cameras with part of his pommel horse routine in first class, while other competitors showed off their medals in photographs with the flight crew.

Team GB’s heroes arrived at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five shortly before 9.50am this morning - having been all smiles as they boarded the British Airways plane in Brazil for the 7.50pm flight yesterday.

But there were chaotic scenes in baggage reclaim with hundreds of identical red bags together, with windsurfer Nick Dempsey joking 'Mine's the red one' and rower Alex Gregory saying: 'Anyone seen my red bag?'

Before their Boeing 747 plane left the South American country last night, Team GB’s athletes stood up and belted out God Save The Queen as it played over the Tannoy, video footage taken on board revealed.

The plane carried 320 athletes and support staff who stayed in Rio for Sunday's closing ceremony - as well as pole vaults, javelins, bicycles and a 22ft sail - and team members were offered a three-course menu on board.

Welcome home: Children were overcome with emotion as they welcomed back the British athletes who have lit up Rio 2016

Trampolinist Bryony Page is greeted by fans as Team GB's medal winners return to the UK on the British Airways flight

Third place: Joshua Buatsi, who won bronze in the light-heavyweight boxing competition, is greeted by fans at Heathrow

Gold medallist rower Matt Langridge and other members of the Team GB Olympic team are welcomed on returning from Rio

Some children crouched in front of the barriers clutching small British flags, while others greeted their loved ones

Tears: Many friends and relatives rushed to embrace their loved ones after weeks spent thousands of miles apart

A British sportsman is greeted by a loved one at Heathrow Airport after Team GB finished second in the Olympic medal table

BA is the official airline supporter of Team GB, and the carrier put on a special VIP charter flight for the athletes. The aircraft and the crew were taken out of service and put on specially for the flight.

BA pays for the flight as part of their partnership with Team GB - and the latter was told how many seats would be available on the flight before deciding who would sit where.

Upon his arrival in London, British rower Will Satch told MailOnline: ‘The party plane was amazing. It (the last couple of weeks) was a bit unorganised here and there in Rio. We kind of overcooked it on the party front in Rio.

‘It was like the whole world was open to us because during the first week we were kept wrapped in cotton wool [their event was over in the first week]. I haven’t really slept but you can sleep when you’re dead.

Rower William Satch signs an autograph for a young fan. The sportsman told MailOnline: 'The party plane was amazing'

Women's hockey champion Lily Owsley poses with her gold medal while it is held by a little girl called Charlotte at Heathrow

Athlete Emily Diamond (left), who won bronze in the women's 4x400m, and rower Matthew Langridge (right), who won gold

Boxing gold - again: Nicola Adams is welcomed home from Rio by her friends and family at London Heathrow Airport today

Tom Daley returns home with the bronze medal he won with Dan Goodfellow in the synchronised 10m platform diving

Hockey gold medal winner Sam Quek (left) and badminton bronze medallist Marcus Ellis (right) arrive back at Heathrow

Rower Matthew Langridge poses with two delighted girls - and allows one of them to wear his gold medal from Rio 2016

Britain's Alistair (right, gold) and Jonny Brownlee (silver) pose with their medals in the Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow Airport

Helen Glover (left) and Heather Stanning (right) pose with their gold medals after a press conference at the Sofitel Hotel

‘Now it’s going to be party time. I’m going to go off the grid for a bit. My mum is here – she’s an emotional wreck. It’s cool being back. Having a gold medal? It’s very lovely. There was just enough champagne to go round.’

And hockey star Georgie Twigg said: ‘Because there were 19 of us they couldn’t sit us all in first class. We had lots on champagne –everyone kept coming back to our area - that was definitely where the party was at.’

Meanwhile cyclist Katie Archibald told MailOnline: ‘I have never been on a flight before where they did a really emotional speech at the beginning. It was a bit awkward walking past with a gold medal.'

And diver Tom Daley, who won bronze in the men's synchronized 10m platform and was sitting with the women’s eight rowers on the flight, said: ‘It was amazing to be part of the most historic Team GB.

There's no place like home: Team GB athletes pose with their astonishing haul of 67 medals - including 27 golds - having arrived back at London Heathrow Airport shortly before 9.50am today after finishing second in the Rio 2016 medal table

Can you see my red bag? Baggage collection at Heathrow Terminal Five was expected to be a little complicated this morning

Chaotic scenes: Team GB members make their way through London Heathrow Airport (left) and landing on BA2016 (right)

An image created as an equirectangular panorama shows Team GB athletes disembarking after arriving home at Heathrow

Windsurfer Nick Dempsey tweeted this picture at Heathrow Terminal Five's baggage reclaim, saying: 'Mine's the red one!'

British rower Alex Gregory made a similar joke on Twitter, saying: 'Anyone seen my red bag? @TeamGB #Olympics'

Stunning achievement: Britain's women's hockey team smile as they pose with their medals after securing a first Olympic hockey gold medal by beating defending champions the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout last week

Celebrate good times: Britain's women's hockey team, who were bronze medallists four years ago at London 2012, were clearly excited to be home after they landed at Heathrow Airport following the British Airways flight from Rio de Janeiro

Gold medallists: Swimmer Adam Peaty (left) and rower Helen Glover (centre) pose with a member of British Airways cabin crew (right) at Heathrow Airport today following the most successful Olympic Games for Britain in more than a century

Hockey girls: With 77 champagne bottles on board and a rendition on the National Anthem before take-off, there was a carnival atmosphere on board the plane - and the athletes were still smiling as they got off the flight at Heathrow today

The stars return: Team GB athletes including members of the women's gold medal-winning hockey team (left) leave the aeroplane after arriving home at Heathrow Airport, along with gymnast Louis Smith with his silver medal (right)

Gold winners: Gymnast Max Whitlock (left) and boxer Nicola Adams (right), who both won their respective competitions in Brazil, smile and wave as Team GB's medal winning athletes return to Britain from Rio on a British Airways flight today

‘We were all kind of mixed in together on the plane. At the beginning the captain did a toast to us all and we drank champagne. I’m looking forward to a fry up now.’

Britain won 67 medals at the games - two more than the remarkable haul in London four years ago - with 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze representing the country's biggest medal count in more than a century.

And after winning the hearts of the country with their sporting heroics, Team GB’s gold medal-winning athletes were treated to a first-class ticket home.

Yet as the elite group crosses the skies – presumably sipping from a glass of complimentary champagne - you may have spared a thought for their teammates not carrying a medal.

Here they are: A total of 320 athletes and support staff travelled back from Rio in a gold-nosed British Airways Boeing 747 with 'victoRIOus' emblazoned on the side. The team were greeted by cheers and applause from the airport's staff

Winners: The plane carried 320 athletes and support staff who stayed in Rio for Sunday's closing ceremony- as well as pole vaults, javelins, bicycles and a 22ft sail – and team members will be offered a three-course menu on board

Team GB chef de mission Mark England (centre) speaks to journalists next to Adam Peaty (left) and Katherine Grainger (right)

Olympic rower Helen Glover tweeted this photo of her wearing the captain's hat, saying: 'Touch down! Flight of a lifetime'

Two-time Olympic champion gymnast Max Whitlock posed for the cameras on board the British Airways flight today

Gold medalists of Team GB pose for a selfie with a member of British Airways cabin crew prior to flying back from Rio on British Airways flight BA2016 at Galeao Airport

Before they took off, the Team GB gold medal athletes posed for a selfie with a British Airways stewardess

For despite their best efforts, Team GB athletes who failed to finish in a podium position had to watch their teammates sit down to a business class seat as they languished in economy.

Steve Hawkins, the pilot of flight BA2016, said: 'I flew one of our prime ministers around on a VIP trip and I've also been involved a couple of other high profile flights.

‘Nothing as important as this, nothing as high profile as this, nothing as prestigious or as exciting as this. So bringing back Team GB from Rio 2016 has got to be the pinnacle of my flying in BA so far.’

Hockey star Susannah Townsend tweeted: 'Memories that will last a lifetime!! Time to head home! Thank you Rio, you have been amazing! @TeamGB #greattobeBAck'

Before their Boeing 747 plane left the South American country last night, Team GB’s athletes stood up and belted out God Save The Queen as it played over the tannoy, according to rowing champion Helen Glover (pictured centre)

British hockey player Nicola White posted this photo with the caption: '#TeamGB #hockey coming home!!!! @British_Airways getting us home in style! PROUD TO BE BRITISH RIGHT NOW'

With 77 champagne bottles on board and a stirring rendition on the National Anthem before take-off, there was a carnival atmosphere on board the golden-nosed plane taking Great Britain's athletes home from Rio 2016 today

The group of 270 athletes and officials arrived at Heathrow this morning to a huge welcome after Team GB specially chartered a fleet of British Airways planes.

But in a light-handed snub, or perhaps an incentive for the Tokyo Games in 2020, officials said upgrades had only been offered to medal winners.

The group of 27 gold medal winners was given priority when it came to allocating first class seats.

Athletes who finished in second or third place had to settle for slightly cheaper seats and were expected to take positions in business and premium economy seats. Pictured above centre is sprint canoer Rachel Cawthorn, who did not win a medal

At the airport check-in yesterday there appeared little sign of animosity or suggestions that the separation was a form of sporting ‘apartheid’

Sprint canoer Rachel Cawthorn (left) tweeted this picture with a fluffy toy version of the Rio mascot, saying: 'Just arrived home in a@teamgb chartered @British_airways plane and it's #greattobeBAck!!'

The gold medals were all on show on the British Airways flight today as the winners arrived home from the Rio Olympics

Trampoline silver medallist Bryony Page (left) posted this image with the caption: 'Post-Games bucket list #1 Enjoy a glass of champagne on the flight home - with medallist Sally Conway (right) ���� #greattobeBAck'

Bronze medalist rower William Satch (right) tweeted this photo with Adam Peaty (left) from inside the cockpit of the BA plane

Diver Chris Mears tweeted this selfie from on board British Airways flight BA2016 and said: 'Gunna sleep the whole way'

Cyclist Callum Skinner tweeted a picture of his gold medal and a glass of champagne, saying: 'Living the dream. See you later Rio. First class back to Heathrow.'

Among them were world record breaking swimmer Adam Peaty, 21, who kick-started the medal rush and rower Helen Glover, a double Olympic champion.

Nicola Adams, the first woman to retain a boxing title, and divers Chris Mears and Jack Laugher, were thought to be among those lapping up the extra legroom in their high-end seats.

But athletes who finished in second or third place had to settle for slightly cheaper seats and were expected to take positions in business and premium economy seats.

At the airport check-in yesterday however there appeared little sign of animosity or suggestions that the separation was a form of sporting ‘apartheid’.

Joe Joyce of Great Britain takes a selfie with British Airways captain Steve Hawkins as they prepare to fly back from Rio

Great Britain's athletes are heading home from Rio after the country's greatest ever overseas Olympic Games

The heroes were all smiles at the Brazilian city's airport today as they prepared to board a golden-nosed British Airways plane to London Heathrow. Pictured is boxer Nicola Adams who retained her title

Men's synchronized 3m springboard winning diver Jack Laugher is pictured at the airport in Rio yesterday before the flight

Pictured is Heather Oliver and Kirsty Gilmour, who represented Team GB in the badminton events in Rio de Janeiro

The British Airways plane, with a gold nose, waits for the Team GB heroes at the airport in Rio de Janeiro to take them home

Instead the group was seen amidst a logjam of thousands of athletes, officials and supporters exiting Brazil, prompting advice being issued to leave six hours before flight time.

Officials denied the separation of the athletes was an issue, instead saying it was a ‘gesture’ that recognised the achievements in Rio where GB took a record 67 medals.

It was a contrast to the reaction before the Games began when some athletes spoke out against being made to travel in economy while others went in Premium Economy and Business calling it a ‘Class Division.’

It was unclear whether Kate Richardson-Walsh, the captain of the triumphant women’s hockey team and Team GB closing ceremony flagbearer, was among those in first class.

Pictured is Team GB's silver medallist Joe Joyce, who gave up cheerleading to become a boxer and also has an arts degree

Team GB smashed their target of 48 medals to make Rio 2016 the country's best ever 'away' Games, and ended up with 67 medals - two more than London's remarkable haul - to finish second

After winning the hearts of the country with their sporting heroics, Team GB’s gold medal-winning athletes were treated to a first-class ticket home

It is understood that the majority of the hockey squad, whose penalty shootout win over Holland in Rio captivated the nation watching on their TVs at home, were in business for the overnight 11-hour flight home.

Several of Britain’s gold medal winners had already left Rio, including double tennis gold medallist Andy Murray and golf champion Justin Rose.

Golden cyclists Sir Bradley Wiggins, Jason Kenny and his partner Laura Trott, who became the first woman to win four golds for GB, had also left the country.

The cost of the charter is unclear but one-way First Class tickets from Rio to London later this month were selling for £3,832 yesterday.

But athletes who finished in second or third place, like Katherine Grainger (pictured) had to settle for slightly cheaper seats and were expected to take positions in business and premium economy seats

Athletes who finished in second or third place had to settle for slightly cheaper seats and were expected to take positions in business and premium economy seats. Pictured is long jumper Jazmin Sawyers with Union Flag guitar

Officials denied the separation of the athletes was an issue, instead saying it was a ‘gesture’ that recognised the achievements in Rio where GB took a record 67 medals

Team GB’s rowers all flew out in business, while their coxes and support staff flew economy. Team GB’s Rugby Sevens flew business class.

Upgrades on the flights out had been left to the athletes to pay themselves although sponsors and individual sports chose to travel business.

A total of 15 athletes are believed to have been given business class seats by British Athletics, but it said flying all 366 athletes out in upgraded seats would have cost £2million. Olympic Association sources said this would have been unaffordable.

Several of Britain’s gold medal winners had already left Rio, including double tennis gold medallist Andy Murray and golf champion Justin Rose

Upgrades on the flights out had been left to the athletes to pay themselves although sponsors and individual sports chose to travel business

Team GB athletes leave Rio to head back to London Heathrow after a successful 2016 Olympic Games

Each sport decides how their athletes fly out to Rio, with control over its own individual budget, but the British Olympics Association is solely responsible for funding Team GB’s participation in the games.

The British Airways flight BA2016 that carried Team GB back to Heathrow was decorated with a gold nose and the name ‘victorious’ on its livery.

The Boeing 747 ferried 270 athletes and support staff - as well as pole vaults, javelins bicycles and a 6.7 metre sail.

Appropriately, the flight was loaded in Rio with 77 extra champagne bottles and treats for team members, who will be offered a three-course menu

Britain collected 27 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze medals. China picked up more medals than Britain with 70 but with 27 of them gold and only one more athlete left to compete, the nation cannot overtake Team GB

Traditional rivals such as France, Germany and Australia were left trailing as Britain became the first country ever to improve its medal tally after hosting the Games.

Appropriately, the flight was loaded in Rio with 77 extra champagne bottles and treats for team members, who will be offered a three-course menu.

Britain collected 27 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze medals. China picked up more medals than Britain with 70 but with 27 of them gold and only one more athlete left to compete, the nation cannot overtake Team GB.

Traditional rivals such as France, Germany and Australia were left trailing as Britain became the first country ever to improve its medal tally after hosting the Games.

Pictured is Team GB's Lutalo Muhammad who finished with a silver medal in the taekwondo event in Rio de Janeiro

Adam Peaty, who kicked off the gold rush for Great Britain gives the thumbs-up to the camera at the airport in Rio

The medal total was Britain’s highest since 1908, when events included deer shooting, tandem racing and the tug of war

Whitehall sources last night indicated that most of the stars who have kept millions glued to their screens late into the night will be recognised in the New Year’s Honours

The total was Britain’s highest since 1908, when events included deer shooting, tandem racing and the tug of war.

Whitehall sources last night indicated that most of the stars who have kept millions glued to their screens late into the night will be recognised in the New Year’s Honours.

They are expected to include: runner Mo Farah, who is likely to be knighted after electrifying the nation again in the 5,000 metres; Max Whitlock, who secured Britain’s first and second ever golds in gymnastics; and cyclist Laura Trott, whose superhuman efforts were singled out for praise by Prime Minister Theresa May.