A US Airways Express flight was delayed nearly three hours while a beekeeper removed a swarm of bees that were buzzing around the tug that was about to pull the plane from the gate.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A US Airways Express flight left three hours late from a North Carolina airport after a swarm of bees kept crews from rolling the plane back from the gate.

US Airways spokesman Davien Anderson says Flight 2690 to Indianapolis had boarded Wednesday afternoon and was ready for departure from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Anderson says a worker approached the tug — which pushes the airplane back from the gate — and noticed the bees.

The worker couldn't operate the tug in fear of being stung.

US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Mohr says a beekeeper captured the bees. She says the 79 passengers and four crewmembers aboard left at 4 p.m. and arrived in Indianapolis at about an hour later.

None of the bees got inside the cabin, and no injuries were reported.

— The Associated Press