US reopens airspace

The United States Transportation Department reopened its airspace at 11.00am EDT (3.00pm GMT).

The Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said airports would be reopened and flights resumed on a case-by-case basis, only after they implement more stringent levels of security following Tuesday's terror attacks.

The first commercial flight took off soon after 5pm.

Five British Airways' planes diverted from America due to the terrorist atrocities were today returning to London.

Four of the planes were flying back to Heathrow from Canada after authorities there lifted their aviation ban for certain flights.

A fifth plane was flying back to Heathrow having been diverted to Bermuda.