When racing pigeon Biggles got himself into a bit of a flap on the way home last month, he was forced to crash-land into an Ilkley garden.

And little did the bird-brained flyer realise at the time, but his unexpected detour would lead to a real flight of fancy from Leeds-Bradford International Airport yesterday.

Biggles was the passenger of honour on board a Jet2.com flight to Edinburgh on his way home to owner Steve Girdwood after spending weeks in the care of pilot Captain Mike Smith.

The bird, a two-year-old Willy Thas pedigree, was racing home from Newark, Nottinghamshire, on May 22, when bad weather forced him to land in Mr Smith’s back garden.

After he was left injured by the experience, Mr Smith’s family nurtured Biggles back to health before handing him a lofty position in the cockpit of yesterday’s flight and home to a relieved Mr Girdwood.

“My children Cameron and Ashleigh found the bird at the bottom of our garden,” Mr Smith said.

“He was looking a little sorry for himself and had clearly injured one of his wings, so my wife whose father is a gamekeeper nursed him back to health – and in the meantime the children nicknamed him Biggles.

“I managed to get in touch with Steve after finding his contact details around the bird’s leg and he was overjoyed to hear from us. I’m so pleased that I was able to help Biggles finish his journey – he’s a chirpy little chap and I’m sure he wants to get home to his roost.”

Yesterday, Mr Girdwood, of Sighthill, near Edinburgh, was a happy man after getting his hands on one of his best pigeons.

“I was overjoyed to hear from Captain Smith. The pigeon is one of my fastest birds and was fifth out of 1,000 racers on his last competitive outing,” he said.

“When he didn’t return home after a few days, I thought something must be badly wrong but the wee fella did well to choose a pilot’s garden to land in. He didn’t have a name until now, but I think Biggles fits him pretty well.

“He’s certainly had an adventure that he won’t forget for some time.”