Teams compete in jetliner tug-of-war at Newark airport

Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Dozens of teams turned out at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday to try to pull a 93,000-lb. jetliner by hand as part of an annual fundraiser benefiting the Special Olympics.

Organizers of the annual event said more than 50 teams of 20 took turns trying to haul the Boeing 737 a distance of 10 feet. Awards were handed out to the team able to complete the task the fastest, and to the team with the lowest total weight able to achieve the feat.

Teams from area police and fire departments and private businesses competed for bragging rights in front of more than 1,000 spectators who were granted free admission to watch the event.

"It's a lot of fun and people practice for this year round," said Robert Belfiore, a retired police chief and current director of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

The event was hosted by United Airlines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Proceeds were donated to the Special Olympics of New Jersey.