Plane carrying Czech PM lands with cracked cockpit window

Warsaw, May 27 (IANS/RIA Novosti) An Airbus A319 carrying Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas landed safely in Moscow after pilots found a crack in the cockpit outer window while in the air, the Czech News Agency reported.

The plane en route to Russia was flying over Belarus when a cracked windscreen in the cockpit window was discovered, the report said.

The pilots decided to push the aircraft down and even thought of making an emergency landing.

The crew, however, later took a decision to continue the flight to Moscow.

Necas arrived in Russia on a four-day working visit. He plans to visit the Black Sea resort of Sochi, St. Petersburg and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

During his visit, the premier is expected to discuss bilateral relations, trade and economic cooperation and investment.

The delegation also includes Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba and a group of businessmen and entrepreneurs.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

pm/