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Belfast Flybe flight lands without nose gear Belfast Flybe flight lands without nose gear
(about 1 hour later)
A Belfast passenger plane has landed without nose gear after it experienced "technical issues" and circled for more than an hour above the Irish Sea.A Belfast passenger plane has landed without nose gear after it experienced "technical issues" and circled for more than an hour above the Irish Sea.
Fifty-two passengers and four crew members were on board the Flybe flight BE331 from Belfast City Airport to Inverness, which had to be diverted. Fifty-three passengers and four crew members were on board the Flybe flight BE331 from Belfast City Airport to Inverness, which had to be diverted.
It landed at Belfast International Airport at about 13:30 GMT.It landed at Belfast International Airport at about 13:30 GMT.
A Flybe statement said: "Our primary concern is for the welfare of the passengers and crew. The airline said one passenger was taken to hospital with "a minor hand injury" but no-one else was hurt.
"Flybe can confirm that there has been an incident involving one of our Bombardier Q-400 aircraft, flight no BE331 which landed with no nose gear in place," it added. "Flybe can confirm that there has been an incident involving one of our Bombardier Q-400 aircraft, flight no BE331 which landed with no nose gear in place," its statement said.
The Dash-8-400 aircraft was scheduled to leave Belfast at 11:05 GMT and was due to land in Scotland at 12:10.The Dash-8-400 aircraft was scheduled to leave Belfast at 11:05 GMT and was due to land in Scotland at 12:10.
But the flight circled in a holding pattern for over an hour near Belfast Lough, before diverting to Aldergrove.But the flight circled in a holding pattern for over an hour near Belfast Lough, before diverting to Aldergrove.
'Specialist team'
The pilots have been praised by the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA).
"Landing without a nose gear is a very difficult manoeuvre, but one pilots train extensively for," BALPA tweeted.
The Flybe pilots "appear to have done a sterling job", it added
The airline said its "primary concern is for the welfare of the passengers and crew".
"We are sending a specialist team to Belfast to offer assistance and we will now do all we can to understand the cause of this incident."
Fire crews were on standby at Belfast International Airport for an emergency landing, according to Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).Fire crews were on standby at Belfast International Airport for an emergency landing, according to Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).
"The aircraft has landed safely. No action required from NIFRS at the scene," it tweeted. "The aircraft has landed safely. No action required from NIFRS at the scene," it tweeted."