Bermuda played temporary host to one of the world's biggest airliners after a pregnant woman fell ill en-route from London to Jamaica.

The stop-over to allow the 36-year-old patient to be rushed to hospital yesterday is one of few occasions in recent years a Boeing 747 jumbo jet has landed here. The Virgin Atlantic flight, which was heading to Montego Bay, had 400 passengers on board. The 747 is a double decker aircraft, and some models can accommodate up to 524 passengers.

Its arrival caused a stir at the L.F. Wade International Airport, with staff members taking these photographs to record the unusual visit. A Virgin Atlantic spokesman explained that the captain of the jet decided to divert to Bermuda as the closest feasible airport with a runway long enough for a Boeing 747. It landed at 12.35 p.m and took off again 51 minutes later.

The woman is understood by The Royal Gazette to be several weeks pregnant, and was suffering from bleeding. No information about her condition was available by press time.