pressurise properly for high altitude.

Flight 851 bound for Philadelphia left the Civil Air Terminal on schedule at 2.15, but was only about 20 minutes out of Bermuda when the pilot had to turn back, USAir customer service manager Mr. Herbie Siggins told The Royal Gazette .

When the malfunction developed, the pilot immediately steered the 151-seat Boeing 727 to a lower altitude, so that none of the 69 passengers aboard experienced any discomfort, Mr. Siggins said.

The plane landed safely and was back at the terminal at 3 p.m., he said. The flight was cancelled and mechanics and parts were flown in to correct the problem.

It was not expected today's USAir service would be affected, he said. All but five of the passengers were rerouted on a Delta flight to Boston with connections to their final destinations, he added.

The others decided to delay their departures one day.