Landing scare on aircraft as wheel fails

Passengers on a flight between Britain and Ireland escaped injury yesterday after the plane’s nose wheel failed on landing.

Aer Arann, which was operating the Manchester to Shannon service for Aer Lingus, said the aircraft veered off the runway onto the grass with 21 passengers and four crew members on board.

“All passengers and crew safely disembarked the aircraft and no injuries have been reported,” a spokesman for the airline said.

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The plane left Manchester Airport at 8.50am and was due to arrive at Shannon Airport at 10.15am. Aer Arann said the aircraft was attempting to land on its second approach at around 10.30am when it experienced a suspected failure of the nose wheel landing gear.

Emergency services were rushed to the scene.

“Aer Arann cannot speculate as to the cause of the incident and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU), branch of the Department of Transport have been informed,” the spokesman added.