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2 emergency landings at Pta
02/01/2008 14:46 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Two plane crashes were averted on New Year's Day as pilots made emergency landings at Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria authorities said on Wednesday.
In the first incident, at about 11:00, the pilot of a light aircraft had to crash land when one of the plane's wheels could not unfold.
"The pilot was on routine training, doing touch-and-go exercises on the airport's runway. It was when doing this routine exercise that he realised that one of the wheels could not unfold. He then decided to crash land," said spokesperson, Console Tleane.
The plane slid for about 250 metres before it could come to a standstill.
The City's Fire Division at the airport responded promptly as they were already on standby for the pilot to crash land.
Neither the pilot nor his passenger sustained injuries, said Tleane.
In the second incident, at about 12:40 a pilot had to make an emergency landing when one of the engines of his aircraft failed.
"The plane was carrying two people. The twin-engine light plane was able to land safely with one engine, no one was injured," said Tleane.
Tshwane executive director for transport, Dennis Baloyi, who was present when the second plane landed said: "I have been told that quite a number of pilots often choose our airport for emergencies because of the high standard of service offered by our Emergency Services. We are glad that we have once again assisted in this regard."
Baloyi also commended the two pilots for having landed safely.
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