A PILOT has been praised for his "textbook wheels-up landing" of a light plane at Newcastle Airport.
Port Stephens police Superintendent Wayne Humphrey told media on Monday the two passengers, a 60-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman from the Central Coast, had a lucky escape.
"They got out of the plane themselves ... I believe they jumped in a car and drove home," he said.
The pilot, a 53-year-old Queensland man, has been hailed a hero for safely conducting the emergency landing at Williamtown just after 12.15pm on May 13.
"I could hear him on the air, he sounded very calm to me," Superintendent Humphrey said.
The recovery of the Eastern Air Services plane from where it came to rest on its belly on the runway was continuing on Monday afternoon.
The in-air drama captivated Hunter residents as the aircraft spent more than 90 minutes circling Newcastle Airport, and flying north towards Hawks Nest, as it burned through its fuel load.
More than 20,000 people were watching with bated breath on Radar24 online and a crowd had gathered near the runway in the moments before the plane descended to the tarmac at Newcastle.
The Newcastle Herald understands the plane was using up its fuel to reduce the risk of fire when the aircraft landed.
Superintendent Humphrey said a joint emergency services operation involving both military and civilian organisations unfolded.
"Everybody was there, and it ended really well," he said.
An eyewitness told the Newcastle Herald the incredible emergency landing was over in about 10 seconds.
Emergency services swarmed the plane immediately where it came to rest on the runway.
The landing gear on the 10-seater King Air aircraft failed shortly after take-off from Newcastle Airport on Monday morning with three people, including the pilot, onboard.
NSW Police said the flight reported technical issues to air traffic control at the Williamtown Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base just after 10.30am.
The pilot told NBN News as he left the airport on Monday that he noticed the landing gear was paralysed.
"About an hour before I started preparing for the landing mentally - this is what I'm going to do," he said.
"It's almost like a football player - I just executed what I had to do.
"It was all about minimising risk. I had a figure in the back of my mind about how much fuel I wanted on board for the least risk and I just circled until I got that figure."
The experienced pilot said he had learnt to fly a plane at age 15, before he could even drive a car.
The 60-year-old male passenger told NBN News the pilot did a wonderful job and stayed calm.
"I have to give it to him," he said.
Police officers attached to the Port Stephens Hunter command were sent to the scene, including specialist rescue resources.
Ambulance NSW crews tasked multiple resources to the scene, firefighters and State Emergency Service (SES) crews were also there, along with Westpac and Careflight rescue helicopters.
Earlier in the day a spokesperson confirmed that Defence had been providing support to a civilian aircraft that had suffered a mechanical fault.
Eastern Air Services (EAS) group safety manager Shane Moore told the Herald the pilot at the helm of the emergency wheels-up landing did an "incredible job".
"The only thing I'll say at the moment is that it was an incredible job done by the pilot to bring the aircraft in and to have everyone walk away safely," he said.
"That's the main objective."
He said there would be no further comment on the incident while it was with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
A spokesperson from the ATSB confirmed it was gathering information from the pilot and operator before it determined if a full investigation would be launched.
The Port Macquarie company is a family-owned airline service which the Herald understands was set up by two families.
It is one of only a few operators in Australia that meets the higher Regular Public Transport (RPT) airline standard in the aeroplane category, according to its website.
Commercial passenger transport is divided into RPT and charter operations, with the RPT standard being the highest approval the Civil Aviation Safety Authority issues.
"The higher standard requires EAS to adopt many additional programs, such as safety management systems, human factors training, pilot training and checking every six months, and a more comprehensive maintenance system," the EAS website says.
EAS runs regularly scheduled flights to Lord Howe Island, charter flights to anywhere in Australia and a Learn to Fly School.
It also operates scenic flights from Port Macquarie or Lord Howe Island and air freight services to anywhere in Australia.
Passengers could expect flight delays at Newcastle Airport on Monday afternoon, with the runway expected to be closed for up to 24 hours while the plane was inspected and recovered.
In a public statement, Newcastle Airport has said it was "incredibly relieved" the aircraft landed safely.
"We're investigating options to recover the aircraft and re-open the airfield as soon as possible," the statement said.
"We will update our socials with more information as it becomes available.
"Passengers are encouraged to speak to their airline directly if they have any questions."
