Passengers on board an Air Berlin Boeing 737-800 have escaped uninjured after the aircraft overran the runway during take-off at Dortmund.

The aircraft was operating flight AB2450 to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

Images from the scene show that the aircraft has come to rest apparently with its nose in contact with the ground, although the extent of any damage is unclear.

The aircraft, registered D-ABKF, is only a few months old.

Dortmund Airport's operator says that all 165 passengers were unharmed in the incident, which took place at 07:05. But it adds that flights have been disrupted while recovery efforts take place.

The airport has a single runway, designated 06/24, which is 2,000m (6,560ft) in length. NOTAM information states that the runway has been closed, owing to a disabled aircraft, and that the airport is "available for helicopters only".

Meteorological data for Dortmund at the time of the incident showed snowy weather conditions.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news