Phila.-bound plane delayed in air for hours

Mechanical issues forced a plane bound for Philadelphia from Brussels to turn around Thursday and circle for hours before it was able to land.

A US Airways flight carrying 168 passengers and nine crew members landed safely in Brussels at 4:43 p.m. Brussels time (10:43 a.m. Philadelphia time), said Victoria Lupica, a spokeswoman for the airline.

Lupica said the pilot made the decision to return and then had to circle to get rid of some fuel, which is standard procedure with premature landings. She said the flight had been rescheduled for sometime Friday.

News reports said that the mechanical issue was a faulty rudder and that the plane circled for about six hours. - Julia Terruso