Leeds Utd team plane in runway emergency

A PLANE carrying members of the Leeds United football team crashed after running off the end of a runway at Stansted Airport early this morning, Essex police said.

Two passengers suffered minor injuries in the incident, when the HS748 aeroplane, carrying 40 passengers, suffered mechanical failure during take-off, which was aborted. The front undercarriage collapsed as the plane ran off the runway, at about 12.30am. It was not known whether those hurt included Leeds players, police said.

The Leeds team had lost 3-0 to West Ham United at the Upton Park ground in east London last night, and were understood to have been travelling back to Yorkshire.