A plane carrying dozens of Irish voters home for the country's abortion referendum has been struck by another passenger jet on the runway at Stansted.

The FR205 Ryanair flight to Dublin was waiting for permission to take off when it was shunted from behind by a Primera flight to Malaga taxiing behind it. No injuries were reported.

Cabin crew quickly confirmed to those on board that the aircraft had been hit and that all passengers would have to be evacuated.

Three fire engines quickly appeared on the scene, seemingly as a precaution, although there appeared to be no sign of danger.

Staff from the Independent who were on the flight say the mood remained calm, even jovial.

The back doors of the plane could not be opened, so passengers were gradually evacuated from the back of the plane up to the front door "to avoid tipping issues", according to cabin crew.

A large number of those on board were travelling to Ireland to vote in today's referendum on repealing the country's eighth amendment, which effectively criminalises abortion.

Around 25 passengers were wearing jumpers bearing the 'Repeal' slogan.

Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Show all 15 1 / 15 Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Members of the public hold yes placards on Fairview road Getty Images Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Taoiseach Leo Varadkar casts his vote at Scoil Thomas, Castlenock Dublin PA Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Members of the public hold no placards on Fairview road Getty Images Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures A woman wears a campaign T-shirt and badges REUTERS Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures A woman arrives to vote with a baby as Ireland holds a referendum on liberalizing its law on abortion, in Dublin, Ireland, May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Max Rossi MAX ROSSI REUTERS Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Lorraine Curtin with her son Cillian Curtin, age 5 months, and Petrina Conmee arrive at Dublin airport from Portugal, having traveled especially to vote in Ireland's referendum REUTERS Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Members of the public hold yes placards on Fairview road Getty Images Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures A nun casts her ballot REUTERS Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Handout photo of Micheal Martin and wife Mary voting in Cork as as the country goes to the polls to vote in the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Abortion. Photo credit should read: PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA PA Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadakar leaves a polling station after casting his vote AFP/Getty Images Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Tom Harrington arrives to cast his ballot at Knock national school AP Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina cast their votes at the polling station in St Mary's Hospial, Pheonix Park, Dublin, as the country goes to the polls to vote in the referendum on the 8th Amendment of the Irish Constitution. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Abortion. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Leo Varadkar casts his vote PA Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures A woman carries her baby as she arrives to vote Reuters Ireland votes in historic abortion referendum: in pictures Nuns prepare to cast their ballots as Ireland holds a referendum on liberalizing its law on abortion, in Dublin, Ireland, May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Alex Fraser STAFF REUTERS

Genevieve Hulme Beaman, aged 29, from Dublin, was among those on the flight.

"My whole reason to get home is to vote, so as long as I get home to vote it's fine," she told The Independent.

"You can vote until 10pm. I wanted to be there to support the women there, I have a lot of friends who are very emotional today and they could do with the support. It's not ideal to be here. I booked this early flight to be there for the whole day."

Grainne Maguire, a 34-year-old from Navan, told The Independent: "I actually don't have a vote but I was really looking forward to getting home to canvass, and annoy anti-choice people by walking around in a Repeal jumper looking confident."

One of the passengers, Malena McQuarrie, 23, from Dublin, said: "I'm extremely annoyed, but I hope we're going to get home in time to vote.

"Luckily I live by the airport so it's not so bad for me but some people have to go far into the country. A girl in front of me was saying she has to fly back tonight."

Passengers on the Ryanair flight were waiting to be put on another flight, while Primera said a substitute aircraft would be sent to Stansted to take passengers to Malaga. It said they would be delayed by around eight hours in total.

A statement from Ryanair said: “One of our aircraft was stationary at the designated holding point on the taxiway at London Stansted Airport this morning when the winglet of a Primera Air aircraft taxiing behind scraped its tail stabiliser.

"Both aircraft were under the instruction of London Stansted Air Traffic Control at the time. The Ryanair aircraft returned to stand to be inspected by Ryanair engineers. To minimise delay, customers will transfer to a replacement aircraft later this morning.”

A Primera statement said: "A substitute aircraft will be sent to Stansted airport to perform the affected flights and carry passengers to their destinations. Meanwhile, all passengers will be offered assistance by a handling agent.

"At the moment the expected delay for the flight to Malaga is about eight hours. Further information will be provided as soon as possible."

Stansted said in a statement: “Following a minor airfield incident at approximately 09.15, two aircraft due to depart were required to return to stand.