AN investigation has been launched after a baggage handler crashed his truck into a plane at a North-East airport.

The incident happened on Monday as 140 passengers were about to leave on the 6.45am bmi baby flight from Durham Tees Valley Airport to London Heathrow.

They were forced to get off the plane, and some faced a ten-hour wait while alternative travel arrangements were made.

Many people missed connecting flights to worldwide destinations, including Las Vegas and Singapore, spoiling Christmas holidays, some of which had been planned for over a year.

A spokesman for Durham Tees Valley Airport said: "There will be an investigation, which will be handled internally by senior management.

"No one was hurt and flights to Heathrow are back to normal."

The spokesman was unable to comment on the extent of the damage to the 320 Airbus.

He said: "bmi engineers are due to attend. They will decide what course of action to take. We believe it the plane will be taken to Manchester Airport."

"We will, as a matter of course, be informing the Civil Aviation Authority, but they may decide not to investigate because there was no air accident.

No one at bmi was available for comment when contacted by The Northern Echo yesterday. Compensation claims are expected to be handled through holiday insurance companies.