Landing Gear Fault on Virgin Aircraft

[traveyb]

Saw this pop up on my phone, fingers crossed for a safe landing as they need to perform a "non standard landing"

Virgin Atlantic has confirmed there is a landing gear problem with a flight thought to be circling over the coast of Sussex.

The aircraft is preparing for a "non standard landing" at Gatwick because of a "technical issue with one of the landing gears", said a statement.

It is currently in a holding pattern near Newhaven, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.

Experts believe the flight may have been dumping fuel.

Flight VS43 took off at 11.44am from Gatwick and was heading to Las Vegas.

Twitter users have reported seeing emergency vehicles heading for the West Sussex airport.

http://news.sky.com/story/1399293/landing-gear-fault-on-virgin-plane-circling-uk

 

[shadow_boxer]

Flightaware tracker.

Looks like landing gear did not retract after take-off. Circled in holding pattern at London Gatwick. Obviously can not complete the flight to Las Vegas so gone to dump fuel.

 

[cainer]

 

[Stumble Bum]

Just saw this pop up aswell. Currently watching it on flightradar24. It's circling near Brighton and dumping fuel I believe.

 

[BattFink]

Just spotted this on twitter, doesn't look good

Hope they get down safely

 

[Jokester]

Looks ever so slightly mangled.

 

[traveyb]

Ouch, that doesn't look good. All those of training will certainly kick in now.
Looks like the plane is heading to Gatwick now

 

[One]

Well they're aware about it. They'll just smother the run way in foam and it'll all be okay probably. A few passengers will probably burst into fits of terror but other than that nothing.

 

[G-MAN2004]

Can someone explain why it is dumping fuel? I honestly do not know.

 

[SpaghettiOs]

Can someone explain why it is dumping fuel? I honestly do not know.

Just in case there is a fire, they don't want any more fuel on board than is necessary.

 

[Mynight]

Lessen the chance of a boom should the landing not go so well.

Fingers crossed.

 

[neil_g]

Can someone explain why it is dumping fuel? I honestly do not know.

also as it says, a lighter plane can land slower (i.e less force on the damaged landing gear)

 

[Feek]

Can someone explain why it is dumping fuel? I honestly do not know.

It will be loaded up with fuel to take it to the USA and the weight of the fuel takes it above the maximum landing weight for the aircraft. It has to dump fuel to get back within the allowable limits.

 

[arknor]

Can someone explain why it is dumping fuel? I honestly do not know.

better than doing a controlled crash landing with loads of flammable liquid on board????

 

[neil_g]

looks like shes coming in..

 

[Janesy B]

Can someone explain why it is dumping fuel? I honestly do not know.

You honestly don't know why they'd want to perform a landing that could end in a crash with as less fuel as possible? Okay.

 

[peige]

App shows it down... lets hope she's ok.

 

[Richie]

It will be loaded up with fuel to take it to the USA and the weight of the fuel takes it above the maximum landing weight for the aircraft. It has to dump fuel to get back within the allowable limits.

^^^ what he said. The plane is too heavy to land when carrying all that fuel. The runway isnt long enough for it to slow down in time (heavier plane needs more speed to create more lift to keep it up).

It needs to dump fuel to make itself lighter and allow it to land at a slower speed meaning it can stop quicker on runway as well

 

[shadow_boxer]

Can someone explain why it is dumping fuel? I honestly do not know.

Main reason isn't to reduce fire risk but remember this plane has long a hell of long journey to Las Vegas so is carrying a huge amount of fuel so it's to reduce the weight of aircraft and the impact on the landing gear when coming in.

 

[stulid]

Its landed?

Video on Sky news showing something at Gatwick with emergency vehicle around it.