Across Georgia

Biplane has trouble landing; no one hurt

LAWRENCEVILLE - A small biplane slid off the runway at Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville on Thursday with no injuries and no damage to the craft, authorities said.

Lt. Thomas Rutledge, public information officer of the Gwinnett County Fire & Emergency Services office, said firefighters responded to the report of the downed plane, which experienced trouble with a rear wheel upon landing.

"This was not an emergency landing," Lt. Rutledge said. "The gear/wheel problem occurred during landing."

Youth pastor snared in child sex sting

PEACHTREE CITY - A church youth pastor is the latest person arrested in an ongoing Internet child sex sting operation by Peachtree City police.

Police arrested Robert Kyle Amerson on Wednesday after the youth pastor for Abundant Life Worship Center in Tyrone, Ga., used the Internet to arrange to meet an undercover officer he thought was a 14-year-old girl, police said.

Mr. Amerson is the 16th person arrested in the Peachtree City sting.

Man dies in wreck during drug bust

NORCROSS - A suspect was killed after crashing into an unmarked police van as officers were making a drug bust.

Gwinnett County police had observed a drug transaction at a hotel and were moving in to arrest three people early Thursday.

Two suspects fled on foot and a third drove away in a white Jeep, said Cpl. Darren Moloney, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department.

The Jeep later crashed into the rear of one of the officers' vehicles. One of the other suspects was caught.

AirTran gives $100 to delayed passengers

ATLANTA - AirTran Airways is sending $100 travel vouchers to thousands of travelers to apologize for delays caused by a computer glitch earlier this week.

AirTran Vice President Tad Hutcheson said some customers "had to wait all day" to catch their flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The vouchers are being mailed to passengers whose trip began in Atlanta "to say we're sorry."

- Edited from wire reports