CNN
—
Two passengers and a pilot have escaped unharmed from a small plane that was forced to land without landing gear due to mechanical failure at Newcastle Airport in New South Wales, Australia.
CNN affiliate Nine News reported that the plane, a Beech B-200 Super King, circled the airport for hours burning fuel before making a “textbook” wheel-up emergency landing.
Video footage shows the plane entering the runway without activating its landing gear before landing, then skidding along the tarmac until it comes to a stop.
Emergency response vehicles were on standby and could be seen on video rushing to help the plane.
NSW Police Superintendent Wayne Humphrey praised the 53-year-old pilot for the successful landing, saying no one was injured and passengers were able to drive home, Nine News reported. Ta.
“The pilot did a really good job and the results were great,” Humphrey was quoted as saying. “I could hear his voice on the air, and it sounded very calm to me.”
The plane had been circling the airport for several hours to burn fuel.
Humphrey said those in the control room who were guiding the plane burst into applause when they saw the plane land safely.
The plane was scheduled to take a 26-minute flight from Newcastle to Port Macquarie, about 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of Sydney.
