Plane makes fiery emergency landing at Gold Coast Airport

Two pilots have been commended after they were forced to make a dramatic emergency landing that sent sparks shooting across the runway at Gold Coast Airport. SEE THE VIDEO

Two Gold Coast pilots have been commended for their “professionalism” and “skill” after they were forced to make an emergency landing at Gold Coast Airport when their plane’s landing gear failed.

The pilots reported the landing gear issue about 8pm on Tuesday, and kept the plane in the air for about an hour, circling the airport to burn off fuel.

The six-seater Beechcraft 58 Baron touched down without the landing gear, sending sparks flying across the runway as emergency crews looked on.

A plane has made an emergency landing at Gold Coast Airport after its landing gear failed. Video: 9 News

Air Gold Coast Flight Training, Jet Charter and Aircraft Maintenance general manager Peter Long said the pilots had been out on a routine proficiency test, which is conducted every six months.

“They were in the air for about an hour and on return to Gold Coast Airport they had a landing gear indication problem,” he said.

“Air traffic control told them they did not have a left hand main landing gear, it did not extend.

“The two pilots went through all their checks and drills and the decision was made in the best interest of safety to do a wheels-up landing.”

Mr Long said the two pilots were local to the Gold Coast, had worked at the aviation company for many years and were experienced pilots.

He said it was a “rare event” and the two pilots “performed the emergency landing textbook and faultlessly”.

“We certainly commend them on their professionalism, their actions and ensuring a safe outrcome,” Mr Long said.

“I’d also like to thank and commend the airport for their assistance, the outstanding work of our local air traffic control and operators, and the amazing work that our airport fire service provides.”

Critical care paramedics were at the airport in the event of a failed landing.

“You prepare for the worst and hope for the best with those sort of incidents,” Mitch Ware of the Queensland Ambulance Service said.

The plane circled the airport for an hour to burn off fuel.

Both pilots were reportedly left shaken by the incident but were unharmed.

A Gold Coast Airport spokeswoman said: “A light aircraft experienced a technical issue with its landing gear upon approach to Gold Coast Airport last night.

“The experienced pilots on board landed the aircraft safely with the landing gear retracted. “There are no ongoing impacts to airport operations.”

The two pilots, aged in their 40s and 60s, were assessed on scene by paramedics. No one was injured.

Leading aviation expert Geoff Thomas praised the pilots for their handling of a “very difficult situation”.

“It’s fairly rare (a crash of this type occurs) but it does impact on light aircraft far more than large commercial aircraft,” he said.

“To be able to land it certainly does take some skill and burning off the fuel was absolutely the right idea to minimise the risk.

“It was well-executed in a very difficult situation for them, particularly at night with the challenges they were facing.

“Having two pilots, they would have supported each other through, so overall it was a great outcome for a very difficult situation.”

Originally published as Plane makes fiery emergency landing at Gold Coast Airport