Plane’s Crew Lowers Landing Gear by Hand
A United Express commuter plane with 17 people aboard landed safely Thursday after an electrical problem forced the crew to lower the landing gear by hand, authorities said.
The flight to Sacramento departed Long Beach Municipal Airport at 11:27 a.m. but turned around and was back on the ground by noon, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elly Brekke. Instruments on the plane, a twin-engine turboprop Embraer Brasilia, indicated electrical problems shortly after takeoff, Brekke said.
The plane circled the airport while the wheels were lowered. Emergency vehicles stood by but were not needed. Mark Peterson, spokesman for West Air Commuter Airlines of Fresno, parent of United Express, said there was no emergency evacuation of the plane and that passengers were taken to John Wayne Airport for a later flight.
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