Heathrow-Bound Jet Grounded As Wing Hits Fence

A Virgin Atlantic plane has been grounded at New York's John F Kennedy airport after its wing struck a fence before take-off.

The Heathrow-bound aircraft was being pushed by a vehicle from a departure gate when its wing hit a blast fence around 8.30am local time.

None of the 277 passengers and 14 crew aboard the plane were injured.

A passenger who tweeted a picture of the incident wrote: "noooooo!! They crashed our plane into the blast fence!! I just want to go home!!"

A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic told Sky News all the passengers were being booked on to other flights to Heathrow.

She said there had been "minor damage" to a wing tip and the aircraft is due to fly back to London later.

However it will be a "positioning flight" and no passengers will be on board.

She told Sky: "The VS26 departing from JFK to London Heathrow today returned to the gate after a miscalculation by the tug caused minor damage to one of its wing tips.

"All customers disembarked the aircraft and our teams have made arrangement to get our customers on their way home tonight.

"Safety is our number one priority and we would like to apologise for the delay and any inconvenience."