Virgin Atlantic flight to Attempt a 'non-standard' Landing , Happening now.

The virgin plane has dumped fuel and is preparing for a 'non-standard' landing at Gatwick airport due to a reported technical issue with one of the landing gears , fingers crossed for a safe landing.

Virgin said flight VS43 travelling from Gatwick to Las Vegas is returning to the West Sussex airport.

The aircraft circled repeatedly between Gatwick and the south coast of England apparently to burn off fuel.

The plane is a Boeing 747. Airport emergency services are on stand-by.

A Virgin spokesman said: "Virgin Atlantic can confirm that flight VS43 on December 29, travelling to McCarran International Airport Las Vegas, returned to Gatwick due to a technical issue with one of the landing gears.
www.bbc.co.uk...

a reply to: gortex

Being that they are returning to the airport they departed from I would think that this is a case of the gear failing to retract properly. Hopefully they can get it to deploy completely and it is a non-issue at touchdown.

originally posted by: gortex
The virgin plane has dumped fuel and is preparing for a 'non-standard' landing at Gatwick airport due to a reported technical issue with one of the landing gears , fingers crossed for a safe landing.

Virgin said flight VS43 travelling from Gatwick to Las Vegas is returning to the West Sussex airport.

The aircraft circled repeatedly between Gatwick and the south coast of England apparently to burn off fuel.

The plane is a Boeing 747. Airport emergency services are on stand-by.

A Virgin spokesman said: "Virgin Atlantic can confirm that flight VS43 on December 29, travelling to McCarran International Airport Las Vegas, returned to Gatwick due to a technical issue with one of the landing gears.
www.bbc.co.uk...

Wonder what the technical glitch is? My guess would be something with the landing gear not coming down and they have to ditch the fuel so they don't start a fire when the plane touches down. That would be a very scary thing to hear from the pilot inside the craft though.....

Okay... we surrender god... man really wasn't meant to fly!

Bummer.

a reply to: gortex

Best of luck to all involved.

The plane is now down and safe

a reply to: gortex

Is dumping the fuel standard before an emergency/unconventional landing? Or is it because they plan on skidding down the runway... controlled crash if you will?

ETA: thanks Zaph

a reply to: Vasa Croe

They have to dump fuel because the maximum takeoff weight is higher than the maximum weight they can land at.

a reply to: doompornjunkie

If a crash is possible you dump fuel to lessen possible complications on landing.

Edit: very glad to hear it landed safely.

originally posted by: doompornjunkie
a reply to: gortex

Is dumping the fuel standard before an emergency/unconventional landing? Or is it because they plan on skidding down the runway... controlled crash if you will?

Pretty standard for a emergency landing. Why go up in a fiery ball when you dont need to.

a reply to: Soloprotocol

Why dump the fuel if the plane is in good shape to land?? Not all emergency landings mean that the plane is going to crash when it lands... Zaphoids explanation is the one I was looking for.

a reply to: Soloprotocol

Max takeoff weight for a 747, depending on type and engine is 800,000-875,000 pounds. Max landing weight is between about 575,000 and 650,000 pounds. Only way to lose that is dump fuel.

a reply to: doompornjunkie

When you have gear issues lessening the weight will lessen the odds of a gear collapsing. With additives in fuel fire isnt a big concern with gas from 1st world nations.
Edit: and what was said in the post above me.

a reply to: Irishhaf

Hahaha really? I'm pretty sure jet fuel is extremely flammable regardless of which class of nation it came from.

a reply to: doompornjunkie

There is an adative 1st world countries that make it hard for them to go boom. But i think it drives up the cost of av gas, so some poorer nations don't, though I think it's nearly universal.

I landed safely, seems they did a good job

a reply to: doompornjunkie

They've started adding inerting agents into fuel tanks, and fuel additives to increase the flash point of fuel.

originally posted by: doompornjunkie
a reply to: Soloprotocol

Why dump the fuel if the plane is in good shape to land?? Not all emergency landings mean that the plane is going to crash when it lands... Zaphoids explanation is the one I was looking for.

Regardless of regulations in place for take-off and landing, the main concern here is they wouldn't be able land at the desired speed (slow enough) with a full tank.

originally posted by: aLLeKs
I landed safely, seems they did a good job

Yeah, been watching it live on Sky News. Heart in mouth until the live radar stopped moving and a picture of the plane on the tarmac. Fantastic stuff. Sounds like the pilot and crew done an outstanding job on board, i.e. dealing with passenger anxiety. One of the passengers has just said that he didn't know it would have been such a fuss (on the news) as it was such a calm experience. They also had to perform the brace position. I think I would have been a bag of nerves.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: doompornjunkie

They've started adding inerting agents into fuel tanks, and fuel additives to increase the flash point of fuel.

I was aware of the additives in Jet-A, I was referring to additives that would mean:

fire isnt a big concern with gas from 1st world nations.

I mean additives are great and all, but a flash point of 100F in no way means safety during a crash.