SAA - A320@ Lusaka

[beechbum]

Have already put this post on Rumours and News but any of us flying around Southern Africa today heard of the gear failure on an SAA A320 at Lusaka international. Apparently noone was hurt.

[Flying Bean]

Yes.This was a major incident. We are a local charter company based in Lusaka. Our owner and his wife were on board and one of our pilots was waiting on the balcony with a radio.
The weather was bad. Black low cloud, heavy rain and gusting winds.
Both Eastern Air and Zambian Airways had already done a Go Around just prior to SAA arrival.
The plane touched down once , then again, then slid about the runway before the wheels left the tarmac. Plane then swung round as the gear collapsed and the engine embedded in the ground. Ended up at 90 degrees to the runway.
Our man in the plane got the impression after the first bounce that the pilot was going for a Go Round. But was more disturbed by the fact the plane was not immediately evacuated. They remained on board for another 20 minutes with the doors closed.
Although no one was injured the follow up on the ground was appalling with zero organisation from SAA or the airport authorities.
Would be interested to hear from other airline crew what the proccedures are for a "minor" crash landing like this.
Surely with the danger of ruptured fuel tanks(undercarrage off and engine in the dirt) pax should be emergency evacuated down the slides? I know this can often cause more injuries than the incident, but what are the
major airline policies on this?

[The Guvnor]

Our policy is simple - make like a shepherd and get the flock out of there!!

Just remember what happened with the Riyadh L1011 in terms of hanging round and not evacuating. Everyone died.

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:) Happiness is a warm L1011 :)