4 ms·

Seems they couldn't get their nose gear down.

• redis_mlc 6y ago
  In US training, generally it's recommended to configure the airplane for landing, and if the nosewheel collapses, just ride it down. Because airplanes land on their main (back wheels) first, the nosewheel is not considered very important, and the incident is considered to be very survivable. However, in foreign countries, there can be a greater fear of career repercussions for damaging equipment or delaying flights. This was also seen in the SFO Asiana accident that a foreign crew just fell apart in an atypical scenario: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiana_Airlines_Flight_214 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiana_Airlines_Flight_214 Once in a while in the US you hear of a pilot trying to land firmly to snap the nosewheel into position, but it would be unusual for them to take off and try it again, esp. with passengers. Some factors are: the pilot doesn't trust the gear indicators for some reason, or they decide burning off fuel before landing is safer, or the airport doesn't have adequate firefighting equipment or a nearby hospital. Source: commercially-rated airplane pilot, small airplane maintenance test pilot.
  • cjbprime 6y ago
    Just curious: is it possible that they knew they had a gear malfunction and didn't know whether it was nose or main, when they decided to go around?