GIANTS quarterback Eli Manning never got off the ground yesterday – missing what was to be a triumphant TV appearance on David Letterman last night.

Letterman had even postponed the taping of his show from the usual 4:30 p.m. start to 7 o’clock to give Manning extra time to fly back to New York late yesterday.

But the hero of the Giants’ historic Super Bowl win was stuck at the Phoenix airport all afternoon, unable to take off because of the volume of air traf fic, show insiders said.

“Everybody decided to leave at the same time,” lamented the insider.

Last night’s show was supposed to be a coup for Letterman – with Manning and Sen. Hill ary Clinton on the same night.

Manning’s appearance was rescheduled for to morrow night.