ran up around $20,000 of bills at the Airport.

It has emerged that a staggering 900 hours of overtime were racked up at the Airport because of the emergency landing.

The plane stayed on the airfield where it was checked over by engineers for two days after the drama on Tuesday.

It finally flew back to Miami at 12 noon on Thursday, after round-the-clock work by technicians. The Royal Gazette has learned that the unscheduled landing and repair work placed a giant burden on the Airport's overtime bill.

Crash-Fire-Rescue workers and a range of terminal staff all had to stay late.

Extra costs included airfield and terminal lighting and extra air conditioning.

Plus, three late American Airlines flights this week alone -- including one landing 17 hours behind schedule -- placed an extra burden on the Airport's budget.

There was no official comment from the Airport or American Airlines last night.

But acting Transport Minister Terry Lister said he anticipated that Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown would be looking into the incident on his return. He added that he expected that Dr. Brown would also be talking with American Airlines.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley said the Airport had fulfilled its duty and in that situation there was nothing else that could be done.

Jet emergency cost $20,000 "That is the cost of doing business,'' he said. "You can't risk other peoples' lives by saying you aren't doing that because of the cost.

"You must protect people and do whatever you can to look after those that arrive here.'' The Minister said the only thing that could be done to minimise the cost was to maximise the security.

Airline executives at headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, would not comment on speculation that the plane had already suffered engine failure during at least two flights.

But they confirmed they would have to pay a landing and parking fee for the Bermuda diversion.

Other costs will have to come out of regular Airport budgets.

The London-to-Miami Boeing 767-300, carrying 141 people, landed safely after its second engine re-fired 80 miles from Bermuda.

Thirty-five firefighters, 15 fire trucks and an armada of other emergency vehicles waited anxiously as it prepared to land.

Bermudians flying to the Caribbean with American Airlines have received good news.

The company's American Eagle airline has just received Extended Overwater Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.

It means flight times to Bardados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago will be reduced because aircraft can fly more direct over water routes.