New tarmac traps BA flight

ANTIGUA, Antigua and Barbuda -- A British Airways jumbo jet was grounded for 11 hours in Antigua after getting stuck in newly-laid runway tarmac.

More than 100 passengers were on board the Boeing 777 when its landing wheels became trapped in the ground at Antigua's VC Bird International Airport on Wednesday.

The plane was eventually freed from the runway on Thursday.

An airport spokesman told reporters: "It seems the tarmac had not dried properly."

Flight 2179 from London Gatwick was on a stopover en route to St Lucia when it ran into difficulties.

The 140 passengers were forced to disembark and spend the night in a hotel while engineers worked to release the stricken plane.

The jet was due to resume its journey to St Lucia.