Plane off runway in Sardinia after Putin lands

ROME (Reuters) - A Russian plane taking part in an international fire fighting drill came off a runway in Sardinia on Thursday shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin landed there, the Italian civil aviation authority said.

The twin-engined Russian plane was on a routine fire fighting drill organised by Italian emergency services, involving colleagues from various countries including Spain and France, the aviation authority said.

The plane had 17 people on board, none of whom where injured in the incident, which appeared to have been caused by heavy rain during the landing.

Putin had already landed safely on an earlier flight and left with Italian prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi.

The two went to Berlusconi's Sardinian villa, where they were due to have dinner and discuss bilateral ties.

Italian police initially reported erroneously that the plane that came off the runway was part of Putin's delegation.