Plane Lands Safely Despite Landing Gear Warning
In the second incident of its kind in a week, the pilot of an American Airlines passenger jet approaching John Wayne Airport with 148 people aboard reported that a cockpit warning light failed to show that the landing gear was working.
Airport authorities said the pilot reported the problem shortly after 7:30 p.m. as the MD-80 jetliner built by McDonnell Douglas approached. As crash crews lined the runways, Flight 501 from Sacramento landed safely about 8 p.m. after a fly-by of the control tower indicated that the wheels were fully extended.
Courtney Wiercioch, an airport spokeswoman, said one of the cockpit warning lights apparently came on as the landing gear was lowered, then went out.
On the afternoon of Nov. 20, an America West 737 with 43 people aboard had a similar warning light problem shortly after takeoff from John Wayne. The San Francisco-bound flight was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, where it landed safely.
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