Airport closed after Ryanair jet taxis off runway

Lodz airport has been closed in Poland after a Ryanair plane with 170 passengers went off the runway while taxiing before takeoff.

Airport spokesman Milosz Wika says the England-bound Boeing 737's wheel got stuck in soft ground after leaving the tarmac when apparently trying to turn around at the end of the runway.

He says that wind forced planes to use the full length of the runway today.

Officials closed the airport around noon while technicians prepared to pull the plane back onto the runway, he said.

The passengers were transferred by bus 80 miles east to Warsaw for a flight to Nottingham.

Mr Wika said other Lodz flights were being diverted to Warsaw, and a bus service would be provided.