Plane with over 100 people onboard dramatically lands without its landing gear
After a dramatic crash landing, 100 passengers deplaned from a Delta jet — surprisingly safe, albeit a bit shaken.
A Boeing 717 took off from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 7.35am. local time Wednesday.
Just a few hours later, it landed in Charlotte — without its landing gear deployed.
There were over 100 passengers on the aircraft.
A passenger on board told the local news outlet that the crew told them a problem with the landing gear had occurred and that they would have to make a crash landing.
'Renaissance' 2023 World Tour: Here’s how to get presale Beyoncé tickets todayThey reviewed safety information with customers, then the plane dipped toward the runway, pulled up, then dipped again.
On the second descent, the passengers were told to brace for impact — but the landing was a smooth one, with "no jarring or even loud noises," the customer said.
On Twitter, @parks3811 said: "So this just happened… On Delta flight 1092 and we just landed in Charlotte, without nose gear! The crew was amazing and the pilots landed it smoothly!"
The airline said the plane landed with its nose gear in the 'up' position, and it came to a safe stop on the runway.
The crew deployed inflatable slides, and the close to 100 people on board disembarked safely without any injuries reported.
A bus took them to the terminal.
Delta said two pilots, three flight attendants and 96 passengers were on board.
There was another problem, however — without landing gear deployed, the plane couldn't easily taxi out of the way of other planes.
The airport was forced to close the runway while crews worked to remove the jet.
A spokesperson for the the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport told WSOC9 that the air travel hub was anticipating operational impacts and delays.
Mason Greenwood included in Man Utd Premier League squad despite club inquiryIn a tweet, the airport encouraged passengers flying later in the day to check on the status of their flights ahead of arrival.
"Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” Delta said in a statement. “While this is a rare occurrence, Delta flight crews train extensively to safely manage through many scenarios and flight 1092 landed safely without reported injuries.
"Our next focus is to take care of our customers on this flight, including retrieving their bags and seeing them to their final destinations safely. We apologize to our customers for what they experienced."
A passenger on the flight told Channel 9: "The crew told us there was an issue with the landing gear and instructed us to go over safety information.
"We came in low once and then climbed again. Second time had us brace but the landing was smooth. No jarring or even loud noises. We were in the back so that may have been why. Everyone evacuated via slides. No injuries as far as I know. Crew and pilots were wonderful!"
This isn't the first mishap even this month that the airline has dealt with at US airports.
Just this week, a Unifi Aviation ground crew member was sucked into the engine of a Delta jet that had just landed at the San Antonio International Airport.
He had been on the tarmac when the plane had taxied by with one engine running.
It subsequently "ingested" him, killing him.
It was later revealed that he had used the plane to kill himself and had jumped into the engine in an attempt to end his own life.
In the US, if you or someone you know needs help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
In the UK, the Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email [email protected] or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.