The British Airways jet had to pull up before landing to avoid another plane

The Scotland international football team was involved in a mid-air flight incident in London on the first leg of their trip to Japan.

A jet carrying the squad had to pull out of landing moments before it was due to touch down at Heathrow airport.

Another plane was believed to be occupying the runway as the British Airways flight made its final approach.

The plane circled the airport and landed safely 15 minutes later. No-one was injured during the episode.

The Scotland squad were travelling on BA flight 1479 from Glasgow to Heathrow when the incident occurred.

If you were not a frequent flier then it might have been something but it has happened to me before. SFA chief executive Gordon Smith

They were stopping in London to catch an onward flight to Japan, where they are playing an international friendly on Saturday.

"We were around 50 feet off the ground and the front of the plane was too close to another plane, so we had to lift upwards," said Scottish Football Association spokesman, Rob Shorthouse.

"The players reacted in the same way as everyone else onboard the plane. There was a lot of nervous giggling, but everyone is okay."

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith played down the incident.

"We were on our way down and then we took off again," said Smith.

"If you were not a frequent flier then it might have been something but it has happened to me before.

"Indeed, the pilot said, 'I'll have another go at it,' and everyone started laughing."

A BAA Heathrow spokesman said the team's plane arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule, adding that the airport had "no record" of the incident.

The squad is due to arrive in Japan at lunchtime on Thursday.

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