Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was on board an aeroplane that span off a runway yesterday, it has been confirmed.

The Belgian was on a private plane due to leave Norwich International Airport at 6.07pm but it was forced to abort just as it was about to take off, instead coming to a stop on the grass next to the runway.

The airport was then shut down for almost four hours while the aeroplane, which was carrying Kompany and four friends, was removed.

Phil Brockwell, spokesman for Centreline Air, told the Manchester Evening News that he was uncertain why the plane failed to take off.

"It was at a fairly low speed of its departure, at which point it veered off the runway, for reasons for which we have some guesses," he said.

Kompany, who is currently out with a calf injury, had been in Norwich to watch his side defeat the Canaries 3-0 in the FA Cup.