UK - Delays as BA Jumbo gets stuck

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Delays as BA Jumbo gets stuck

A runway at Heathrow airport has been closed after a British Airways Boeing 747 became stuck in a grass verge.

The Northern runway, which normally handles more than 600 flights a day, was shut as a security measure following the incident.

The aircraft had arrived from Boston at 7.40pm, an airport spokesman said.

Four emergency vehicles were sent to the scene of the incident, but all 116 passengers got off the plane unhurt.

The spokesman said: "The most important thing is that the plane landed safely."

"It is not known at this stage the extent to which the weather was a factor," he added.

British Airways said the passengers on board had to wait 90 minutes before getting off the plane.

"The delay was because the engineers had to ensure the steps were stable so it would be safe," said a BA spokeswoman.

She said the entire plane remained stuck on a grass verge on one side of the runway.

The incident had a large knock on effect on dozens of evening flights to and from Heathrow.

Airport authorities said flights were being delayed for an average of one hour.

Some flights to Heathrow were being diverted to other London airports.

http://www.itn.co.uk/news/20001213/britain/01jumbo.shtml

-- Doris (nocents@bellsouth.net), December 13, 2000


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