Pilot crash lands plane, saves over 50 lives

The pilot of an aircraft carrying more than 50 passengers crash landed the plane after it suffered technical difficulties and managed to save all onboard.

The Flybe flight BE331 experienced a technical snag after it took off from George Best Belfast City airport and was forced to hover over Belfast for more than two hours to burn fuel and reduce weight before making an emergency landing. The Inverness-bound plane skidded along the runway before coming to a halt with its nose touching the ground.

All passengers, including one infant, escaped serious injuries except one passenger was taken to nearby hospital with minor hand injury. The airport's main runway remained closed to other aircrafts and fire engines rushed to the plane and all passengers and crew were evacuated safely, according to reports in The Guardian.

A Flybe spokesperson said: "Our primary concern is the welfare and safety of the passengers and crew. There are no further reports of any other passenger or crew injuries." He added that a specialist team will be sent to Belfast for assistance and understand the cause of this incident.

Brian Strutton, general secretary of pilots' union Balpa, praised the pilot and the crew and said, "The pilot has done a sterling job of bringing the aircraft back under those circumstances."

Source: Khaleej Times