Passengers from American Airlines Flight 1751 received a brief and unplanned vacation in Bermuda yesterday after their flight was forced to make an emergency landing.

The flight took off from New York?s JFK airport on Thursday night destined for San Juan, Puerto Rico.

However, due to a partial electrical failure as well as the loss of some cockpit instruments they were forced to re-route to the Bermuda International Airport.

As part of normal protocol, the pilot declared an emergency and landed safely at the Airport at 12.05 a.m.

Fire Chief Lieutenant Dana Lovell received the emergency call at 11.20 p.m. on Thursday reporting the American Airlines flight was experiencing electrical problems.

?We were able to determine that it was not as severe as originally thought but it was a precautionary (stop),? said Lt. Lovell, who reported that 11 vehicles with emergency rescue equipment were waiting at the location.

The flight had 243 passengers on board and no one was injured.

All passengers were forced to disembark the plane and remained in Bermuda overnight.

According to Airport General Manager James Howes passengers had the chance to enjoy the Island for a few hours yesterday.

Further arrangements were made by American Airlines for their continuing journey to San Juan and passengers were set to fly out at 3 p.m. yesterday.

A tourist was recovering from a hand injury after colliding with a bus while riding a livery cycle on Paynter?s Road, St. George?s, near Tucker?s Point Golf Club.

Police report the man was pinned under the bus for a short time before being taken via ambulance to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital around 10.30 a.m. on Thursday.

The accident occurred as the bus travelled westward and the man approached in the eastbound lane.

Police have ruled out foul play in the death of a senior on Tuesday, after it was found he died of natural causes.

The body of 68-year-old Wilbur Gardiner of Pembroke was found by a relative that morning.

Police arrived on the scene at 8.30 a.m. and Mr. Gardiner was later pronounced dead by an on call physician.

The Bermuda Police Service have contacted the members of Mr. Gardiner?s family and extended their sincere condolences.

A 26-year-old man may be tried in the Supreme Court on charges he sexually assaulted his ex-girlfriend and broke into her home and stole a cellphone.

When he tried to plead ?not guilty? Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo told him that he had to have his matter tried in Supreme Court because of its seriousness.

The defendant was visibly upset and said: ?How am I going to sexually assault my baby?s mama??

Mr. Tokunbo suggested that he get legal advice before he remanded him into custody.

A tourist reported a theft yesterday at Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton.

The complainant told officers that sometime between 2 and 2.30 p.m. a thief stole his hiking bag from the beach.

The bag contained a silver Nokia cell phone, a green Apple I-Pod, $290 cash and personal items.

Police are investigating the matter.

Detectives are investigating the attempted theft of a 15-year-old girl?s wallet on Wednesday afternoon on busy Burnaby Street in Hamilton.

The visitor sought refuge first in the Vibe clothing store then in the nearby workplace of a relative after a man ? who appeared to be in his 20s ? tried to grab the wallet she was holding.

She went into the store and watched the man pace up and down the street. When she left the store the man attempted to steal her wallet for the second time.

The suspect is described as a tall, brown-skinned male of medium build. He is approximately six feet, one inch tall and clean shaven.

He was wearing a white tank top and black jeans with two large silver chains with pendants ? with one chain longer than the other.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit at 295-0011.

A woman who allegedly used offensive language in a public place pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday in Magistrates? Court.

Marian Ritchie, 39, of Look Out Lane, Devonshire, allegedly used offensive language on Woodlands Road, Pembroke.

The matter is set for trial on August 24 in Magistrates? Court.

A wave of car thefts ? usually uncommon in tiny Bermuda ? has led Police to issue a warning to car owners to make sure their vehicles are secure.

Several recent incidents have been brought to the attention of the Bermuda Police Service in which cars have been stolen from garages.

There have also been several thefts from unattended and unlocked vehicles particularly in the Addendum Lane, Pembroke area.

Police urge members of the public to lock their vehicles and to stop leaving keys inside the vehicles for staff of agencies, such as garages or the Transport Control Department.

Garages can also help with this effort by refraining from leaving keys inside of vehicles for owners to collect vehicles after business hours.

Anyone with any information about these incidents is asked to contact the Vehicle Crime Unit on 295-0011.

A Devonshire man was released on $1,000 bail on Thursday after he denied two counts of assault with intent to cause bodily harm in March.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo set down a September 13 trial date for Jahmaine Coddington, 28, of Pride Lane, who is charged with assaulting Javier Franks on March 19 and 20.