U.S. jet flies here with only FIVE passengers

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The nine-hour Boeing 777 journey from Chicago to Heathrow used 22,000 gallons of fuel and produced 43.2 tons of carbon emissions.

Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace said the flight was one of the worst cases of an "environmental crime" and highlighted the aviation industry's reckless attitude to climate change.

Richard Dyer, of Friends of the Earth, said: "Flying a virtually empty plane is an obscene waste of fuel."

Greenpeace spokeswoman Anita Goldsmith said: "Here we have another example of the aviation industry's reckless approach."

The 245-seater jet made the 4,000 mile trip with no passengers in economy, having upgraded the five on board to business class. Cabin crew outnumbered passengers two to one.

The carbon footprint produced by the flight was equivalent to that of a family car driven five times around the globe.

American Airlines said the plane had been fully booked but a 14-hour delay meant most passengers were found other flights. It had considered cancelling the 8 February flight but had a duty to the remaining passengers.

Spokeswoman Anneliese Morris said: "We had to consider the knock-on impact it would have on our schedule."

WHAT ELSE PRODUCES 43 TONS OF CO2?
* A family car travelling five times around the world, 123,000 miles.
* A bus travelling 300,000 miles.
* The amount of gas and electricity consumed by an average household over five years.