Jet's landing gear stuck but pilot prevents plane crash and passenger injury

The skill of a US pilot averted a plane crash and subsequent passenger injury when he managed to land a twin-engine jet safely despite its right-side landing gear being stuck.

The aircraft had been due to land at White Plains, New York, after a flight from Atlanta but when a cockpit light indicated there was a problem with the landing gear it diverted to the larger JFK airport.

As the plane neared touch-down, the pilot managed to balance the plane on its left wheel then slowly used the right wing to stop it completely.

Although the landing created a shower of sparks on the runway, specialist airport fire fighters who were on stand-by were not needed and all 60 passengers and four crew were able to leave the aircraft from its main door.

The travellers were full of praise for the actions of the pilot which prevented any passenger injury in the accident but the US Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the plane crash.