engine problems forced it into a dramatic emergency landing in Bermuda.

And the US Airways Boeing 737-400 would have had to steer clear of Bermuda International Airport had it run into trouble just 24 hours later.

A night-time ban on planes using the airport is running Sunday to Thursday, leaving only Friday and Saturday clear.

Airport chiefs have said they are only able to allow pilots to land for Mayday calls while overnight workers resurface the runway for the next two months.

But Airport operations manager, Jack Gordon, said that although the plane did an emergency landing, the pilot did not signal Mayday.

He added: "The airfield is currently closed except for Maydays between 8.30 at night and 5 a.m., but Friday and Saturday nights are left clear.

"In this case, the pilot did not signal Mayday and we understand the problem was something she managed to keep under control all the time.'' Air traffic controllers were contacted at around 9 p.m. on Saturday that the plane was expecting to come down at 9.14.

Mr. Gordon added: "We were told there was an engine out of order and the plane was brought down on time, albeit with one engine out.

"US Air flew in some engineers because one of the engines now has to be changed.'' It is understood the "emergency diversion'' was triggered when an oil pressure light flickered on in the cockpit.

The pilot shut down engine one as a precaution, in case the oil pressure was spiralling down and out of control.

And she radioed Bermuda to request permission to land.

Mr. Gordon added: "The light comes on as an indication only and sometimes there is no problem at all.

"But when they landed, the crew discovered there was actually high oil pressure so it appears they did the right thing.'' The 130 passengers on board the plane, en route from Philadelphia to Puerto Rico, were delayed at the Airport for four hours while a replacement aircraft was flown in to take them on to the Caribbean.

Herbie Siggins, US Airways' station manager in Bermuda, said the plane was 200 miles south of Bermuda when it ran into trouble.

And he said the pilot would have flown it back to Norfolk, Virginia, if the Bermuda runway had been closed.

He added: "We fed and watered the passengers while they were here in Bermuda and apologised for the inconvenience.

"A replacement engine will now be flown in and it's a seven or eight-hour job.

"Then the 737 and the support aircraft will both be able to head back to the US.'' The following is the timetable events leading up to the emergency landing at Bermuda International Airport on Saturday Saturday 8.24 p.m.

Oil pressure indicator lights up in the captain's cockpit on US Airways flight 2295, from Philadelphia to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The pilot is 200 miles south of Bermuda when she opts to return for the 50-minute flight back to the Island.

9.09 The stricken flight, with 130 passengers on board, touches down at Bermuda International Airport, with one engine deliberately shut down.

Sunday 1.09 a.m.

A replacement 737-400 aircraft touches down at Bermuda International Airport.

An inspection team working on the grounded plane discovers "an internal malfunction''. Problems with the oil mean the engine has to be changed.

1.14 The new plane arrives at the terminal and passengers begin to board, while work continues on the original 737. The passengers take off about half-an-hour later.

4.09 US Airways hear that the plane has landed safely in Puerto Rico.

11.35 US Airways mechanics and four mechanics from engine manufacturer General Electric arrive in Bermuda from Baltimore, to begin assessing the extent of the damage.

1 p.m.

A supervising mechanic is flown in from Philadelphia, while work is underway on the plane on the airfield. Arrangements are made for a replacement engine to be flown last night or this morning GROUNDED -- US Airways' stranded Boeing 737 sits on the tarmac at the airport yesterday, waiting to be fitted with a new engine. The plane, carrying 130 passengers, was forced to divert to Bermuda on Saturday night after experiencing mechanical problems.