Got that one myself once when an SR22 popped a door just after departure from YSCB and I returned to close it. Was tempted to reply "down and welded" except the Cirrus is composite, so I was stumped on what to say
. I thought it was because I had a RAAF ATCO at YSCB, but maybe they're all encouraged to say it in case - in the heat of the moment - the crew has forgotten (the usual cause of gear-up landings, after all
).
Agree the whole incident is being over reported - but they did call a mayday and quite a few departures were held and quite a few arrivals were put into the hold (if only for a few minutes) ...
Ted