Victoria Beckham’s jumbo pyjama drama

Victoria Beckham was left badly shaken when she was caught up in a terrifying runway scare.

Posh and kids Romeo and Cruz were on the taxiing jet when a bird flew into one of the plane’s engines moments before take-off. Passengers screamed as the pilot slammed on the brakes and the plane screeched to a halt. Fire crews were called on to the runway to douse the craft’s overheated brakes with foam.

It was then that the horrifying scale of the disaster really hit home for Victoria — she realised she was wearing standard-issue aircraft pyjamas and no make-up. The Spice Girl launched into the emergency position and grabbed her high heels, designer clobber and lipstick. She then stayed on the cancelled Los Angeles to London carrier to complete her showbiz transformation while the other passengers were bussed back to the terminal.

Posh, the boys plus her PA and a bodyguard, who accompanied her on the Air New Zealand flight, were ferried back to the building separately. The group later caught another flight out of LA.

Witnesses said Posh remained calm throughout Monday’s potentially image-shattering ordeal. Some passengers spoke about their terror.

One said: “It was really scary when the pilot suddenly slammed on the brakes. The plane was taxiing down the runway and we were set for take-off. We had no idea what was happening and you immediately fear the worst. I was sitting a few rows back from Victoria and her sons, who were at the front of the plane. Victoria wasn’t wearing any make-up and had changed into the pyjamas provided by the airline. It looked like she kept really calm throughout. She appeared to be comforting Romeo at one point. I guess she was as relieved as everyone else. Who knows what could have happened if the bird had flown into the engine a few seconds later, after take-off. Young children were crying and for a moment I feared it was going to turn into a scene from a disaster movie.”

An Air New Zealand spokesman confirmed no one was injured on the jumbo. He said: “A bird flew into one of the plane’s engines just as it started its take-off roll. The engine is being looked at.”