Plane crash at UK airport sparks urgent probe after jet attempts to land in aggressive 50mph winds
A PLANE which crash-landed at an airport in the UK after being buffeted by aggressive 50mph winds is being investigated further.
The ATR 72 jet operated by Emerald Airlines for Aer Lingus was involved in an emergency as its crew attempted to land at Belfast City Airport at about 4pm on December 22.
The wheels under the nose appeared to collapse during the dramatic landing of the plane, which had no passengers onboard.
There were no injuries to the four crew members on the flight, according to reports.
But the plane is still parked at the flight hub in Northern Ireland over a month later with no information on when it is expected to re-enter service, reports Belfast Live.
A spokesperson for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: “The aircraft has not been moved because it is due to undergo further examination work as part of the ongoing investigation.”
Investigations of this nature can take up to nine months to a year to complete, with AAIB saying it is too soon to provide an update.
A spokesperson for Emerald Airlines said the jet was travelling from Edinburgh to Belfast City Airport when it experienced a hard landing due to adverse weather conditions.
“Due to ongoing reviews, we will not be providing further comment at this time”, they said.
Following the scare, all flights in and out of Belfast City Airport were cancelled or diverted for the rest of the day, sparking travel chaos just days before Christmas.
Routes affected including those to Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, and London City airports.
On the night of the crash, an airport spokesperson said: “At around 4pm today, Sunday 22 December, an Aer Lingus regional flight, operated by Emerald Airlines, had an incident on landing at Belfast City Airport.
“All flights to and from the airport have now been cancelled for the rest of the night.
“This was a positioning fight with no passengers but four crew members onboard. The airport’s emergency procedures were enacted.
“The runway is currently closed and will be for the rest of the day. Passengers are asked to contact their airline.”