An airliner carrying 230 passengers had to make an emergency landing in Warsaw yesterday after its landing gear failed to open.
None of the passengers aboard the Boeing 767 from Newark, New Jersey, were injured, said a spokesman for LOT, the Polish airline that operated the flight.
The pilots discovered a technical problem with their landing gear ahead of landing, and circled above the airport for about an hour before landing the plane on its belly without its wheels.
The fire brigade laid out special foam for the plane to land on.
The airport has been closed until today. (PA)
First time lucky?
A novice marathon runner has qualified for the London Olympics after her first run over the distance.
Linda Byrne, from Dundrum, south Dublin, crossed the finish line in the Dublin Marathon in 2.36.21 – 39 seconds inside the cut-off time for qualification for next year’s Olympics.
The 25-year-old was sixth overall, six minutes behind the winner of the women’s race, Helalia Johannes, from Namibia. Ms Byrne said she was shocked and delighted after getting the time confirmed. (PA)
Judge and juror
A retiring Old Bailey judge received a round of applause after saying he had been summoned to be a juror.
Giles Forrester, 71, was serving his last official day as a resident judge at London’s Central Criminal Court. Waving a piece of paper, he said he was required to be at nearby Blackfriars Crown Court by 9 a.m.
“I am too old for jury service,” he declared. “When my present case is over, I will take my leave of you and draw my pension.” The upper age limit for jury service is 70.
Tributes were paid to Judge Forrester, who had been a judge for 25 years. (PA)
Fake whisky
Scientists have developed a method of detecting counterfeit whisky using lasers which can test samples no bigger than a teardrop.
Using a ray of light the width of a human hair, alcohol content is measured to determine whether the drink is genuine or not.
By analysing the collection of light scattered from the whisky, the researchers at the University of St Andrews say they are able to diagnose the sample. Genuine whisky must contain at least 40 per cent. (PA)
Road to ruin
Uganda’s main opposition leader has been arrested – for walking in the road.
Police said Kizzi Besigye was with more than 20 people and disturbing traffic.
Mr Besigye has been leading “walk to work” protests this year to highlight what he says is corruption inside the government. (PA)
No bargain
Consumers are finding they cannot even trust their own families when it comes to buying second-hand cars, according to a survey.
As many as 67 per cent of those who had bought a car from a relative had a bad experience, the poll by website Trusted Dealers found.
Also, 42 per cent said they had bought from a family member to save money but more than 65 per cent said the car had ended up costing them more in the long run. (PA)
Playground noise
A Hong Kong school has lost an appeal against a noise abatement order issued after a neighbour complained about the daily ruckus emanating from its playground, reports said yesterday.
High Court Judge Thomas Au dismissed an appeal by Lantau International School, which was required in 2009 to keep noise levels below 60 decibels or face fines, the South China Morning Post reported.
The school said it respected the court’s decision but asked how the hush order could be enforced on a playground full of young children. “Asking a child not to make noise in a playground is like asking them not to blink or a rabbit not to eat lettuce,” the school’s lawyer was quoted as saying. (AFP)
False priests
Filipinos making their traditional All Saints’ Day visits to cemeteries were advised to watch out for fake priests offering to bless the dead for money, a senior bishop revealed yesterday.
Security guards at cemeteries and people approached by these priests were advised to check their church-issued ID cards to make sure they are for real, said Bishop Deogracias Iniguez.
Reports have indicated the fake priests approach people at cemeteries – especially the larger ones – and offer prayers in exchange for cash, said Bishop Iniquez, head of the public affairs office of the country’s Catholic bishops. (AFP)
Not fast enough
Swedish rally driver Per-Gunner Andersson is known for his speed behind the wheel but he wasn’t fast enough over the weekend when his wife had to give birth in their car on the way to hospital.
“It was a little strange,” Mr Andersson, 31, told the online edition of tabloid Expressen on Monday.
His wife went into labour in the middle of the night on Friday and the couple rushed to the hospital in their BMW. But after half-an-hour they realised they would not make it in time and called an ambulance to meet them on the shoulder of the highway.
“I was pretty calm but when the baby comes out you do want a little assistance,” Mr Andersson said.
The ambulance arrived just in time and their son Alvin was born a minute later without any complications. (AFP)