Fifteen passengers on board a light aircraft were treated for shock today after their plane was spun round by high winds.

The plane was taxiing down the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport when gales pulled it off course.

The twin-engined aircraft ended up on the grass verge at the side of the runway.

No-one was injured and passengers left the plane, which was bound for Glasgow, down the steps.

Four ambulance crews from West Yorkshire attended the scene at 7.30am.

They were on standby at the airport because of poor weather conditions. Fifteen passengers on board the British Midlands plane, which is owned by Business Air, were all treated for shock at the airport.

Three crew members were also on board the 7.22am flight to Glasgow.

Philip Firth, head of marketing and development at the airport, said: "The people on board were quite shocked, although not injured.

"One or two of them asked for a drop of whisky to calm their nerves.

"There was no warning about the gust of wind. It just appeared to strike suddenly.

"We have no idea at what speed the plane was travelling."

Mr Firth said the incident had not caused any delays and all flights were running as normal.

The passengers have been bussed to East Midlands Airport to take another Glasgow flight. The plane is now being checked over.

l An aircraft packed with passengers from Amsterdam missed a flying club plane by just 200 yards at the airport in July last year.

A three-seater Cessna failed to clear the runway in time for the following Fokker 50 passenger plane and was ordered to take "evasive action" by air traffic control.

The Air UK plane from Amsterdam had been carrying around 37 passengers.

At the time, airport operations director Robert Lund said such incidents were rare.

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