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Flybe plane crash-lands at Belfast airport Flybe plane crash-lands at Belfast airport
(about 2 hours later)
A Flybe plane has crashed with its nose down at Belfast international airport following an emergency landing.A Flybe plane has crashed with its nose down at Belfast international airport following an emergency landing.
Flight BE331 to Inverness suffered technical difficulties after it took off from Belfast City/George Best airport around 11.20am on Friday. Fifty six passengers and crew, including a baby, escaped serious injury when flight BE331 to Inverness crashed on Friday. One passenger was taken to hospital and treated for a hand injury.
It was forced to circle the city and dump fuel to reduce weight before coming into Belfast international, according to Flybe. The plane suffered technical difficulties after it took off from Belfast City/George Best airport at aabout 11.20am on Friday. It was forced to circle the city and dump fuel to reduce weight before coming into Belfast international, according to Flybe.
After landing nose-down on the runway around 1.30pm fire engines rushed to the plane. There were 52 passengers and four crew members on board the flight.A Flybe spokesperson said: “Our primary concern is for the welfare of the passengers and crew. All statements relating to this incident will be posted.” After landing nose-down on the runway at about 1.30pm fire engines rushed to the plane and all passengers and crew were evacuated safely.
So far there has been no information about any possible injuries caused by the emergency landing. A Flybe spokesperson said: “Our primary concern is for the welfare of the passengers and crew. All statements relating to this incident will be posted.
Flybe confirm 52 passengers and Four Crew were on board the aircraft that landed at Belfast International without nose gear 🛬 @AllyRH pic.twitter.com/tiylUCDrNa “There are no further reports of any other passenger or crew injuries.”
#BE331 landed without nose gear at Belfast International Airport with minor injuries. 🛬 pic.twitter.com/3yVeAUyeVy#BE331 landed without nose gear at Belfast International Airport with minor injuries. 🛬 pic.twitter.com/3yVeAUyeVy
The spokesperson for the airline said that among the 52 passengers was an infant.
“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,” the Flybe spokesperson added.
Brian Strutton, general secretary of pilots’ union Balpa, praised the flight crew for the way the emergency was handled.
“The pilots in this case appear to have done a sterling job of bringing the aircraft back under those circumstances,” he said.
Flybe confirm 52 passengers and Four Crew were on board the aircraft that landed at Belfast International without nose gear 🛬 @AllyRH pic.twitter.com/tiylUCDrNa