By Debbie McGoldrick

DID one of John Travolta’s private jets go on the fritz last week, forcing an emergency landing at Shannon Airport? Or did Travolta, who also piloted the plane, always mean to touch down at the airport?

Travolta, whose passion for piloting (and owning) planes is well known, was scheduled to fly from Munich to Newark, New Jersey, after doing a round of promotion for his new hit movie Wild Hogs. But the plane, according to several media reports, was forced to make an unscheduled landing because of mechanical problems.

“John Travolta was diverted to Shannon due to technical difficulties,” a spokesperson for the airport was quoted as saying.

The plane was unable to resume its journey to Newark because of the problems, but instead of hanging around the Irish countryside Travolta has been to Ireland a few times before and speaks fondly of his mother’s Irish roots he hired himself another private plane and took off.

A source told one Internet site, “If he hadn’t made it to Shannon, it could have been the end of him. You could tell that he was very relieved.”

Travolta, who lives in Florida in a large estate where he can house his collection of airplanes, denied that there was any unexpected situation that forced him to land in Shannon.

“There was never an emergency. It was just a fuel stop and when we went to depart, the number 2 engine needed a new starter,” he said.

Must have been in need of a big starter. As of this week, the jet was still being serviced in Shannon.