SOUTHLAND : Jet Lands at LAX Without Wheel
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Two passengers suffered minor injuries sliding down an emergency escape chute today when the pilot of a United Airlines 747 jumbo jet arriving from Australia was forced to land at Los Angeles International Airport without the nose gear, authorities said.
Fire engines and crash crews were called to one of the four main runways about 10 a.m. by a report that the pilot was having trouble with the Boeing 747’s front wheels, said Fire Department spokesman Greg Acevedo.
The pilot of United Flight 816 from Sydney had declared an emergency aboard after he was unable to lower the nose wheel. The craft, with 323 passengers and 20 crew members aboard, circled the airport for some time before landing.
The fire crews stood by as the plane landed at 10:25 a.m. The pilot managed to keep the nose off the ground for about 1 1/2 miles until the craft came to a stop, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elly Brekke.
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