NEWCASTLE Airport has now re-opened after being forced to close when an RAF Tornado overshot the runway.

Nobody was hurt when the jet made an emergency landing at the airport at 4.55pm.

The two crew members were checked out by medics following the incident, which happened when their aircraft was diverted to the airport after suffering a birdstrike while in the air.

The Tornado GR4 plane, from 13 Squadron at RAF Marham, in Norfolk, was in the process of landing when it failed to stop.

An airport spokeswoman said it was unclear if the earlier birdstrike affected the plane's ability to stop.

It is believed that the jet's undercarriage collapsed on impact with the runway.

She said the aircraft came to rest on the grass at the far end of the runway near Dinnington Road.

This road was closed as a precaution but the plane was not carrying explosives and by 6.15pm officials confirmed it posed no hazard to the public.

With the runway closed, incoming flights had to be diverted to Durham Tees Valley or Manchester airports for a period of about two hours.

The airport reopened later and the spokeswoman said staff were working to help clear the backlog in the terminal.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "A Tornado GR4 from 13 Squadron RAF Marham made an emergency landing at Newcastle Airport this afternoon.

"Nobody was injured in the incident and the RAF will recover the aircraft as soon as possible.

"We regret the inconvenience caused by the closure of Newcastle Airport's runway. An inquiry will be held."

A Northumbria Police spokesman said officers were called to the airport at 5pm.

He said two people from the plane had been taken to hospital as a precaution.

The spokesman confirmed the aircraft was not carrying any explosive equipment or material.

Passengers waiting to fly from the airport were delayed for some time.

One man, who was travelling to Lisbon and was going to miss his connecting flight in Amsterdam, said: "I saw the airport fire brigade driving towards the scene and then the pilot told us what happened and that we were likely to be delayed for a couple of hours minimum. "

Another RAF Tornado which was flying close to the first aircraft, also suffered a birdstrike and requested permission to make an emergency landing at Durham Tees Valley Airport at 5.30pm, but went on to land safely at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire.

Incoming flights, including diverted flights from Newcastle, were briefly affected because of the possibility of the emergency landing.