Soccer: Man United plane hit by lightning

David Beckham and his Manchester United team-mates have been delayed coming home after the plane they were due to fly in was struck by lightning.

The Premiership champions had been due to fly back this morning after the team's impressive Champions League win over Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna last night.

But the squad was delayed after the plane due to return them to Manchester was struck by lightning as it flew to collect them.

Only the crew were on board the Boeing 737 as it travelled from Manchester to La Coruna this morning to collect the United players following their 2-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The plane was not damaged but the United squad had to wait at La Coruna airport for around an hour while engineers carried out routine safety checks on the plane.

British Airways flight 1999 - which coincides with Manchester United's most successful year - later touched down at Manchester airport at 12.14pm, a BA spokeswoman said.

"As it was approaching La Coruna, the plane was struck by lightning.

"It is quite a commonplace occurrence but it is strict practice that the aircraft has to be checked by the captain and engineers on the ground.

"Checks were carried out and the flight was about an hour delayed."