Shannon Airport's main runway was out of service for almost three hours from 4.30 a.m. on Saturday.A British Airways Boeing 747 on a flight from Philadelphia to London was diverted to Shannon for refuelling, and its nose-wheel ploughed into soft ground when it was turning at the end of the runway.
The 263 passengers were taken to the terminal building while the aircraft was pulled free by tractors. A relief Boeing 767 took the passengers on to London after an eight-hour delay.