Flight Delayed After Stowaway Found on Jet

A London-bound Virgin Atlantic Airways flight was delayed several hours Sunday night after a man, an apparent stowaway, was found in a lavatory as the plane was ready to take off from Los Angeles International Airport, police said.

The trespasser, whose name was not released, was escorted from the plane in handcuffs. The 400-plus passengers aboard the sold-out flight left the 747 and waited for several hours while a security search was made of the jumbo jet, police said.

Crew members who had been making a final check before the plane departed heard noises and discovered the man in a lavatory, and the plane returned to the gate, police said. The man was not armed.

The plane left for London later Sunday night.