What happened at Birmingham

[Mashedpotatoes]

See on the news there was an incident this morning involving a cargo plane that has grounded flights. Any one know what happened?

[Podie]

Landing gear failure according to the Beeb.

[surveyor]

East Midlands, not Birmingham.

And I suspect my Le Mans tickets are on that plane....

[jains15]

Am scheduled to fly out of there this afternoon. First holiday for 4 years not looking good.

Just a layperson, but can't they just drag it off the runway so people can go on their hols?

[Mashedpotatoes]

Sorry to here that jains. Hope they sort it out soon.

[jonnyb]

I would imagine the runway will be closed for the rest of the day.

[Podie]

jains15 said:

Am scheduled to fly out of there this afternoon. First holiday for 4 years not looking good.

Just a layperson, but can't they just drag it off the runway so people can go on their hols?

They'll want to investigate in situ.

Go and pay for the No1 Traveller lounge and sink a few

[Mashedpotatoes]

Has it had a lowering kit fitted?

[Kenty]

Looks like some flights are remaining as 'scheduled' for later today

[yellowjack]

jonnyb said:

I would imagine the runway will be closed for the rest of the day.

when this...



...happened at the Fairford air show (2002) it took 4 hours to clear off the runway.

How that would compare to the Birmingham incident, I don't know, though. The Aeritalia_G-222 is smaller, lighter, and considerably more 'military' than the cargo 'plane. Possibly it was easier to move physically, and subject to fewer CAA type safety rules, and therefore a quicker 'fix'.

[motomk]

There was one in the pacific that ended up looking like that a few months ago. It was also a freighter B737.
http://avherald.com/h?article=46f15c12

Had this happen down here today in Perth.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-29/plane-engine...

[fatboy69]

jains15 said:

Am scheduled to fly out of there this afternoon. First holiday for 4 years not looking good.

Just a layperson, but can't they just drag it off the runway so people can go on their hols?

Not possible because the landing gear, in its entirety, has parted company with the aircraft & was photographed lying on the runway some way away from the aircraft.

So it can't be dragged away.

The technical term is, i believe, 'it's fked!!!!'.

[Scuffers]

according to the local press, it landed and was taxi'ing off the runway when the left hand gear sheared off.

although it's not actually on the runway, it's close enough to keep it closed.

[mcdjl]

Still there but there's a crane at work now

[jonnyb]

Scuffers said:

according to the local press, it landed and was taxi'ing off the runway when the left hand gear sheared off.

although it's not actually on the runway, it's close enough to keep it closed.

It's very much on the runway.

[Scuffers]

jonnyb said:

It's very much on the runway.

So much for the local press...

[JBACON01]

Scuffers said:

So much for the local press...

Your next project Simon! Develop some landing gear that doesn't fall off and make this aircraft handle like it's on rails.

[jains15]

Mashedpotatoes said:

Sorry to here that jains. Hope they sort it out soon.

Thanks mate, flight now scheduled for the morning and has now pinged up that the airfield is operational.

@ Fatboy, yes saw the a/c as we drove round from Castle Donnington around the west end of the airfield, guessed it was fked as you say, clear daylight between the undercarriage and the aircraft. Total pain and these things happen. Spent the afternoon in Nottingham drinking

[mcdjl]

This was at 7 last night:
And this morning as the low loaders cleared off and the AAIB turned up:

it looked like the left undercarriage was set up behind the wing and not attached (as you might expect) though the photo doesnt show it too well.