May 12, 2014, 10:34 AM

Pilot commended for emergency landing

ZAHEDAN, May 11 (MNA) – A pilot of Aseman Airlines flight 8053 travelling from Mashhad and bound to Zahedan has been commended for landing of the plane in an emergency.

When the Fokker 100's rear left wheels, called the undercarriages, failed to open and remained closed before landing in Zahedan’s airspace, the pilot called the control tower to request an emergency landing, but not until he flew in the province’s air space for an hour to drain the fuel to avoid disaster.

He managed to land the plane, though the plane went off-course out of the runway and the tires burst, and all 113 passengers onboard survived, with 7 people with minor injuries.

Around 13:10 local time in Zahedan International Airport, the plane landed with rear left wheels closed. Hassan Aarabi Moqadam, the official in command of what has been called ‘a heavy operation,’ told Mehr News that the pilot had requested an emergency landing reportedly for a closed rear left undercarriage. “Happily enough, all the staff of Crisis Management Headquarters was ready to face the event,” he added.

“A superior skill by the pilot and God’s heavenly blessings created almost a magic where the plane safely landed,” he said.Capt. Tahvildrian, the pilot of the plane, told Mehr News after getting off the Fokker 100 that it was very difficult to tell the passengers that the undercarriages failed to open. “But during the final minutes I asked them to be ready for an emergency landing,” he said.

Rasoul Rashaki the head of the province’s Red Crescent Society said that 7 passengers were injured only mildly, who treated in the airport with the personnel already in the airport. “There were onboard two pregnant mothers whom were taken to hospital,” he added.

SH

MNA

END

News ID 102842

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