---------- Fair use for education and reseach purpose only -----------

Title: British airliner makes emergency landing

8.36 p.m. ET (046 GMT) May 16, 2000

LIVERPOOL, England (AP)  The wing of a British plane carrying 48 passengers and crew touched the runway during an emergency landing Tuesday, after the craft's landing gear apparently failed to open, officials and passengers said.

There were no serious injuries aboard the British Regional Airlines turboprop as it landed at Liverpool's airport. It had circled for nearly three hours to burn off fuel.

"On touchdown the left-hand wing touched the runway,'' said airline spokesman Michael Bathgate. "There were some sparks. The aircraft came to a stop perfectly safe.''

He said the 44 passengers left the plane via emergency chutes. One passenger was treated for whiplash and another for minor shock.

The problem with the aircraft's landing gear was noticed shortly after takeoff from Manchester Airport for an 80-minute flight to Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Bathgate would only say that the pilot had a problem with the left-hand undercarriage. But passenger Philip Ewing said they were told that one of the gear's wheels wouldn't come down.

It diverted to Liverpool Airport, 30 miles west of Manchester, where a full emergency was declared. Fifteen ambulances awaited the plane's landing, while four fire engines plus numerous specialist support teams were also at the scene. Police closed roads around the airport.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/0516/i_ap_0516_112.sml

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), May 16, 2000

Answers

Personal Note: This article gave me a bit of chill. I was a passenger in a plane many years ago that had the same problem and we had to make an emergency landing--it's not fun. We did not have any serious injuries, but it certainly stands as the ride of my life...wouldn't want to do it again.

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), May 16, 2000.

BA PASSENGERS SAFE AFTER CRASH LANDING

The passengers of a British Airways plane were safe on Monday night after a three-hour ordeal during which their plane dumped its fuel and made an emergency landing at Liverpool airport.

Two of the 48 people on board were taken to hospital, one suffering from whiplash and one with shock.

The pilot of the Manchester-to-Belfast flight reported problems with the landing gear shortly after take-off at 6.08pm and was diverted to Speke Airport, where a full-scale emergency was declared.

Dropped onto one wing

After spending three hours circling the Mersey estuary to burn off fuel, the Turboprop operated by British Regional Airlines - a franchise partner of BA - came to a halt on the runway and dropped onto one wing, sending sparks flying.

Michael Bathgate, commercial director for BA Regional, said the pilot had spotted a problem with the left-hand undercarriage. "He landed it perfectly safely," he said. "On touchdown the left-hand wing touched the runway. The aircraft came to a stop perfectly safely.

"Our main concern is for the safety of the passengers and all are safely on the ground." The accident is under investigation, Mr Bathgate said.

Roads closed

Roads around the airport were closed and two RAF rescue helicopters were scrambled from Wales. As dozens of ambulances and fire engines waited for Flight BA7787 to crash-land, the coastguard was put on standby in case the plane overshot the runway into the estuary.

John Davies, an airport loader who lives nearby, said it was "absolutely terrifying". "At one point it seemed to be directly above our house," he said. Inspector Stan Preston of Merseyside Police said: "We are just relieved that it is down and everybody is safe." http://www.sky.com/news/uk/story11.htm

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), May 16, 2000.

Possible problems with Landing Gear and Infrared....

-- Pressed (Progr@mmer.sez), May 16, 2000.