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VASCO
A major accident involving a SpiceJet flight from Surat to Goa was averted, when the plane’s Nose Landing Gear (NLG) initially failed to deploy shortly before landing at Dabolim airport on Tuesday morning.
The SpiceJet SG 3568 Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft along with its passengers and crew later landed safely after a third attempt at 8.05 am, a delay by 30 minutes.
While the navy claims an alert Runway Controller and Air Traffic Control Officer at Naval Air Station INS Hansa were instrumental in averting the mishap, a SpiceJet spokesperson, however, claimed that the pilot had suspected that the NLG was not fully down and had informed ATC and requested for a visual check.
According to reports the incident took place as the SpiceJet SG 3568 had left Surat at about 6.10 am and was scheduled to land in Goa at 7.35 am. It was unclear how many passengers and crew were on the flight.
In its statement, the Navy stated that the alert Runway Controller and Air Traffic Control Officer at Naval Air Station INS Hansa averted a major accident of Spicejet Flight SG 3568.
“The Spicejet Flight was on final approach for landing at Goa Airport when the Runway Controller Ramesh Tigga, Leading Airman (Air Handler) noticed that the NLG was not deployed.”
“The Runway Controller immediately alerted the ATC tower where the Duty Air Traffic Controller, Lt Cdr Harmeet Kaur informed the incoming aircraft to abort the landing and make a second attempt after a ‘go-around’.”
“The second attempt too proved unsuccessful and the NLG was partially deployed only on the third attempt.”
“The flight landed safely at 0805 hrs under assistance of emergency and safety services to recover the aircraft.
