National news capsules

Body found stuffed in air duct in N.Y.

NEW YORK (AP) — A female body was found stuffed inside an air-conditioning duct Saturday in a Manhattan skyscraper where a cleaning woman disappeared four days ago.

Police discovered the corpse, hidden in a utility room duct, just before 9 a.m. as they began searching the 26-story tower for 46-year-old Eridania Rodriguez.

The remains had not been officially identified as of late Saturday, but police spokesman Paul Browne said investigators presumed the body was that of Rodriguez, who had been missing since Tuesday night.

A medical examiner was on the scene trying to confirm the find and determine how the woman died. Authorities believe she was murdered but haven't identified a suspect. They have questioned some people who work in the building.

Endeavour launch is delayed by lightning

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA scrubbed space shuttle Endeavour's Saturday evening launch after lightning struck at least 11 times near the seaside launch pad.

NASA technicians found no damage after an electrical storm Friday afternoon, but said they will need at least another day to check critical systems.

A mission management team plans to meet early Sunday to determine if all the testing has been completed and whether to fuel Endeavour for a possible launch Sunday evening. Mike Moses, chairman of that team, said there were 11 lightning strikes within three-tenths of a mile of the pad, although none of them struck the shuttle, external tank or the two solid rocket boosters.

At the pad, the shuttle has an elaborate lightning protection system with sensors and wires to direct lightning away from the shuttle and its rockets.

"The lightning protection system did its job," he said.

Plane to London fills with mystery smoke

PHOENIX (AP) — British Airways is flying a team of engineers from London to Phoenix to inspect a Boeing 747 that filled with smoke before takeoff, forcing hundreds of passengers to escape on the plane's emergency slides.

Airline spokesman John Lampl says the 298 passengers who were on board Flight 288 as it prepared to take off late Friday were being rebooked onto Saturday flights to London from Phoenix, Los Angeles or Denver.