NATION IN BRIEF

British Airways Cites Lighting at Miami Airport

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MIAMI -- British Airways blamed poor lighting at Miami International Airport for a commercial jet missing a runway exit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family aboard, but airport and federal officials said Wednesday that the lights were fine.

British Airways Flight 209 from London hit some airfield lights after it landed around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, but it did not leave the pavement and it reached the gate under its own power, airport officials said. No injuries were reported.

British Airways spokesman John Lampl said the pilot stopped the 747 at the end of the runway because he could not see the lights to the taxiway. But airport spokeswoman Lauren Stover said the lights were working fine.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators also found that the lights were working properly and that there was no construction, said NTSB spokesman Jeff Kennedy. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen, too, confirmed that the lights were working. She said the plane stopped just past the official end of the runway.

Blair was traveling to Miami to stay with Robin Gibb of Bee Gees fame, Gibb's co-manager John Campbell said.

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-- From News Services