Associated Press

Fargo, N.D. - Two Northwest Airlines flights were grounded in this city for several hours Wednesday because of mechanical problems.

Northwest spokesman Dean Breest said it was "pretty unusual" to have two planes grounded at the same airport at the same time.

The unspecified problems were fixed and the flights departed for Minneapolis late in the morning, Breest said. Passengers said they were told that air speed indicators failed on both planes.

One of the planes had 120 passengers; the other 40. Northwest provided them with flight vouchers for the inconvenience of the delay.

Passengers aboard one of the flights said they were rolling down the runway when the pilot hit the brakes, jostling them in their seats.

"We were just taxiing down the runway and ... just about lifting off the ground and all of a sudden we heard a squeal and something bang, and everyone kind of flew forward into the seat in front of them," said passenger Virginia Eli, of Fargo. | save this article / add to your favorites list