MAN Emergency (27-05-2012)

[DavidWoodward]

I don't usually like starting these kind of threads but I'm curious as to what happened at MAN this afternoon.
I got to the AVP at about 17:30 today (no flying for me today) and there was a First Choice A320 on the Tarmac between 05L and 05R with numerous fire crews in attendance. After around 30 mins it was towed across to the terminal escorted by the fire crew and the landing gear doors were still open. Does this point to a hydraulic issue? Any info to satisfy my curiosity would be appreciated.

[WindSheer]

Certainly sounds like a HYD failure.
The fact that it was towed suggests steering and possible braking issues.

Well done to the guys that got it down! :ok:

[Stu666]

I was there when it landed. Takeoffs had recently switched to the second runway when they suddenly switched back again and the fire service came out with a tug in attendance as well. I overheard somebody mention an A320 was inbound with hydraulic problems. It came in low over the runway, looked slower than usual and almost seemed to silently float before plonking down. The whole place went eerily quiet and sirens could be heard in the distance. It stopped on the runway and didn't move. At that point I left and drove past a good few arriving emergency vehicles.

I was surprised there wasn't any mention of it in the press, or even on here. I posted about it in the Manchester airport section but got no replies so perhaps it is a common occurrance?

Certainly looked a bit serious and I imagine the pax onboard would have been a tad concerned.

Well done to the crew involved, the landing looked very professional and well rehearsed.

[donnlass]

I've seen it happen before to a Thomsonfly which came in quietly on the second runway and sat there while its tyres and engines were looked over before being towed to the stand.


Also another aircraft a couple of years ago while waiting to fly it came past the terminal with a horde of fire engines surrounding it but taxied ok.


They never look like there's loads of drama attached to them tho I imagine like you say the pax and crew were more than a bit concerned.

[easyflyer83]

I was there when it landed. Takeoffs had recently switched to the second runway when they suddenly switched back again and the fire service came out with a tug in attendance as well. I overheard somebody mention an A320 was inbound with hydraulic problems. It came in low over the runway, looked slower than usual and almost seemed to silently float before plonking down. The whole place went eerily quiet and sirens could be heard in the distance. It stopped on the runway and didn't move. At that point I left and drove past a good few arriving emergency vehicles.

I was surprised there wasn't any mention of it in the press, or even on here. I posted about it in the Manchester airport section but got no replies so perhaps it is a common occurrance?

Certainly looked a bit serious and I imagine the pax onboard would have been a tad concerned.

Well done to the crew involved, the landing looked very professional and well rehearsed.

Although many incidents tend to be dramatised by the press I don't think this would have made much news to be honest. Plus there are more incidents such as this over the course of a year than one realises.

As for passengers, theres a good chance that this was a "precautionary landing" and that they probably weren't told there was an issue. I was once operating a flight with an hydraulic issue (though we were able to taxi to stand) and the passengers weren't told but the cabin crew prepared for a "precautionary landing".