Re runway extension in last post.
Remember a Cork friend telling me of a Mexican aircraft which got into trouble over Ireland and believe Shannon ATC guided it to land at a racecourse.
Apparently insurance company were very happy to have runway laid to ensure aircraft could take off again, bearing in mind the alternative.
Good old Goggle allowed me to find it
In 1983, a Mexican private jet made an emergency landing in Mallow, Ireland and had to stay for five weeks so a runway could be built, during which time the pilot became a local celeb. - OMG Facts