A Doha-bound Qatar Airways Boeing 777 suffered “substantial damage” as it hit the approach runway lights during take-off from Miami International airport, said a US government report.

However, the carrier continued its journey to Doha’s Hamad International airport, despite “damage to underbelly of aircraft”, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said in a preliminary report.

The incident occurred at about 16:30 Miami time on September 15, the FAA said.

The US National Transportation Safety Board is looking into the event, which has been classified as an accident as a result of substantial” damage sustained.