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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Elias Visontay Transport and urban affairs reporter

Landing gear fracture forced small plane’s ‘wheels up’ emergency landing, investigation finds

In this image taken from video, a light plane with three people aboard lands safely without landing gear at Newcastle Airport, Australia, Monday, May 13, 2024, after circling the airport for almost three hours to burn off fuel.
The light plane with three people aboard landed safely without landing gear at Newcastle on 13 May 2024 after circling the airport for hours to burn off fuel. Photograph: AP

A small plane was forced to perform a “wheels up” emergency landing in Newcastle due to a pre-existing fracture on its landing gear that snapped after takeoff and caused its front wheel to jam, an investigation has found.

The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air turboprop plane, operated by Eastern Air Services, took off from Newcastle airport on 13 May this year headed for Port Macquarie carrying two passengers as a charter service.

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