An Air Berlin flight to Las Palmas in Spain skidded off the runway at Dortmund airport in northern Germany yesterday. All 165 passengers and six crew escaped unhurt from the Boeing 737, after takeoff was aborted.

Airport spokesman Marc Schulte said an investigation was underway.

[Marc Shulte, Airport Spokesman]:
"It seems there was a technical problem, the pilot and the co-pilot had two different speed indications and so for security reasons, the pilots decided to abort the departure."

Everyone on board was able to leave the plane by the stairs before being driven to Paderborn airport to catch another flight.

Dortmund airport has been closed until further notice and passengers sent to other airports.

Large parts of Germany have experienced heavy snowfall in the last few days, making travel hazardous.