Meat Loaf plane forced off runway

Rocker Meat Loaf narrowly avoided injury after an over-loaded jet bringing him to England almost lost control when it landed in Manchester.

The Bat Out Of Hell star - who weighs 107 kilograms (236 pounds) - and his entourage were seated at the back of the Eastern Airlines Jetstream despite warnings they should be put at the front.

And the 58-year-old had so much heavy luggage some of it was strapped to seats - making the aircraft dangerously overweight.

The pilot battled with the controls as the Jetstream landed, but it still veered across the runway before coming to a stop on a grass verge.

No one was hurt in the incident, but safety bosses have ordered the airline's cabin crew to receive extra training.