EIGHTEEN services are being diverted to Manchester Airport from Heathrow after a plane crash landed at Heathrow.

Passengers suffering from minor injuries had to be led to safety after the BA38 flight from Beijing to London landed short of the runway this afternoon.

Five services were diverted to Manchester within minutes of the accident. Manchester Airport bosses said they were expecting thirteen more over the course of the day, depending on space on the runway.

It is not thought the situation will lead to any delays of services coming in and out of Manchester.

A spokeswoman said: "We do not know exactly what flights will be coming on advance but we aim to help and accommodate as much as we can, so everything goes as smoothly as possible.

"Our passengers are our main concern and we are not expecting this to have any knock-on effect on services leaving and arriving at Manchester."

Six ambulances were dispatched to the scene after the accident at Heathrow. Eyewitnesses described hearing an `enormous bang' as the plane hit the runway before skidding sideways.

The incident happened as Prime Minister Gordon Brown was set to leave Heathrow for China. His flight was delayed because of it.

YOU can see more pictures from the crash above.

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