A deadly winter storm that caked America’s centre with a thick layer of ice claimed at least 17 lives and blacked out more than 600,000 homes and businesses.

A written bomb threat was discovered on a flight from Seattle to Chicago, prompting US aviation officials to temporarily close Midway Airport.

A CORPORATE jet hurtled off the end of a runway yesterday while attempting to take off from Teterboro Airport, speeding across a highway and slamming into a warehouse.

Airport authorities at the Midway airport in Chicago have reported that two people have been detained there in connection with the World Trade Centre disaster.