A gear-up landing in Newcastle, Australia and an emergency landing in Manchester, UK, due to mechanical issues have led to no injuries but raised questions about aviation safety.
On May 13, 2024, a Beechcraft Super King Air faced a critical issue with its landing gear shortly after departing from Newcastle Airport, Australia, destined for Port Macquarie. Encountering mechanical difficulties, the aircraft circled Newcastle Airport for three hours to burn off excess fuel. Piloting the aircraft, the experienced 53-year-old pilot opted for a gear-up landing at Newcastle instead of proceeding to Port Macquarie due to better emergency services availability. The aircraft landed safely on the tarmac without its landing gear. Emergency services were on hand, and despite the precarious situation, the pilot and two passengers emerged unscathed. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has announced an investigation into the incident.
In a separate event on May 12, 2024, a Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 made an emergency landing at Manchester Airport, UK, following reports of smoke and a burnt smell upon landing, which also caused concerns among onlookers. This was attributed to a potential hydraulic system issue that necessitated the captain to declare an emergency. The aircraft landed successfully, with fire services attending as a precaution. All passengers disembarked without injury, and the plane’s subsequent flight was cancelled for further hydraulic inspections. There was no immediate comment from Turkish Airlines on this matter.
Both events involved skilled handling by the flight crews, ensuring the safety of all passengers involved. The respective authorities at each location are conducting thorough investigations to ascertain the definitive causes of these aviation incidents.
