A Polish airport has been closed after a Ryanair plane with 170 passengers on board went off the runway while taxiing before takeoff.

The plane, which was bound for Nottingham, England, got its wheel stuck in soft ground after leaving the tarmac when apparently trying to turn around at the end of the runway.

An airport spokesman said strong winds had forced planes to use the full length of the runway.

Officials closed the airport while technicians prepared to pull the plane back onto the concrete.

"While taxiing, the nose wheel of the aircraft due to operate flight FR1624 from Lodz to East Midlands, sank into the softer stop way surface off the beginning of the runway," a statement from the airline said. "The aircraft, which is undamaged, was moving slowly and had not started its take-off manoeuvre.

"All passengers were disembarked normally from the aircraft using the front steps and were bussed to the terminal.

"The aircraft suffered no damage and our engineers are en route to move the aircraft to the terminal building.

"Ryanair is currently arranging coaches to bring these passengers to Warsaw where a spare aircraft is being arranged to bring them to East Midlands.

"This incident has been reported to the IAA and until it has been properly investigated we will not be in a position to comment further."