Manchester United players and staff endured a scare when the plane carrying them to their Champions League game at Bayer Leverkusen aborted its landing at Cologne airport.

The chartered Monarch flight from Manchester was coming into land on Tuesday evening when, at approximately 400 metres above ground, the plane pulled up to avoid another aircraft that was still on the runway.

No one was injured and the pilot apologised to the United contingent, although Rio Ferdinand admitted that nerves had been frayed before they eventually landed.

Ferdinand tweeted: "Landed in Germany...just...I've only just recovered after that choppy landing! #touchedcloth!!"