ROME - TRAVELLERS faced long lines, delays and cancellations at Italian airports on Tuesday, a day after a wildcat strike by some Alitalia workers forced the carrier to scrap dozens of flights. Some disputes became so heated that police had to intervene.

Lines at Alitalia check-in counters at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport stretched for 200 feet (60 metres) as the terminal struggled with a backlog of hundreds of passengers who spent the night on the floor or in chairs after their flights were canceled due to Monday's strike.

Some angry travellers threatened ground personnel and police came in to calm them down.

Airport officials in Rome said 25 domestic and international flights were canceled Tuesday morning at Leonardo da Vinci, and another 37 flights were scrapped at Milan's Linate airport.

Adding to the transport mayhem, Italy's civil aviation authority said Ciampino, Rome's second-largest airport and a low-cost hub, would remain closed until Tuesday evening as workers removed a Ryanair plane that made a hard emergency landing Monday after hitting a flock of birds.

The plane damaged its left gear and ended its run leaning on the left wing. Two crew members and four passengers suffered minor injuries but all had been released from hospital, Ryanair said on Tuesday.

Some 200 Alitalia flight attendants and pilots staged a surprise protest on Monday, blocking the crew entrance at Leonardo da Vinci and preventing staff wanting to fly from entering the terminal.

Dozens of Alitalia flights were canceled across the country in Monday's chaos, although the carrier has not yet given an official count.

The protesters, who oppose a plan to salvage the bankrupt carrier by cutting routes and jobs, were ordered back to work Monday night by Italy's transport minister. -- AP