Wrong solution to wrong problem. The emergency gear extension works in a vast majority of cases. 99% of gear emergencies are minor, and either false warnings, o

Wrong solution to wrong problem. The emergency gear extension works in a vast majority of cases. 99% of gear emergencies are minor, and either false warnings, or easily fixed on the ground, with minor or no damage to the jet. Newer jets have wheel well fire "bottles" or extinguishers and sensors to detect problems so the crew can respond appropriately. Aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen for safety. The DC-8 ground crew topped up with air, and not nitrogen, and also flew with under-inflated tires. "Hot brakes" is a relatively common cause of aircraft incidents, and responded to by airport fire services, to avoid major disasters. In the Swissair 111 crash, the entertainment system didn't have the proper isolating breaker installed, and wasn't fully shutdown once it malfunctioned. Placing the racks in a critical cockpit location near pilot oxygen supply lines, was a major flaw in the system design. PS. Running out of fuel waiting for "ground landing gears" would be significantly more likely, as commented below.