The plane was bound for Menorca, Spain, but has abandoned its journey and is instead heading back to Manchester.
It should be landing there in the next few minutes.
The jet is currently in a holding pattern over the West Midlands as it waits for a slot to land.
The aircraft is understood to have a problem with a stabiliser.
It originally made a mayday call to the ground, which are usually reserved for life-threatening situations.
It is understood that this has now been downgraded to a pan-pan call, which, while still serious, normally means the crew require assistance from the ground.
The news comes just days on from a British Airways jet being met by fire crews at Heathrow Airport after the pilot sent an SOS call ahead to air traffic control.
