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A330 Faceplants on Tarmac During Routine Inspection

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A330 sits nose-down on the tarmac after its landing gear collapses during inspection.

Engineers inspecting a Singapore Airlines Airbus A330 have some explaining to do after the aircraft appeared to faceplant at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) over the weekend. Pictures posted to Twitter by Arnaud Gailleurd show the aircraft nose-down at a gate with its landing gear retracted.

CNN reports the six-year-old A330 returned to SIN for inspection Sunday after pilots reported a defect. After passengers deplaned, engineers went to work. During what was supposed to be a routine inspection, however, the front landing gear retracted into the aircraft. This caused the aircraft to tilt forward and come to a rest on its nose.

“Maintenance work was being carried out to rectify a defect, and the gear retracted during the subsequent system check,” said an airline representative. “Singapore Airlines will be cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigations.”

One engineer was aboard the aircraft when the front landing gear retracted, but he was not injured. Singapore Airlines says it does not yet know the extent of the damage the “faceplant” caused. The airline will asses the aircraft once it is removed from the gate. Another aircraft was substituted for the scheduled Hong Kong flight.

Saturday’s incident marks the second safety situation involving a Singapore Airlines Airbus this year. In May, another A330 experienced a scare after the engines lost power mid-flight.

[Photo: Arnaud Gailleurd, Twitter @noar85]

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2 Comments
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Boggie Dog October 14, 2015

Landing gear safety pins were made just for this purpose.

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note2001 October 13, 2015

“Maintenance work was being carried out to rectify a defect, and the gear retracted during the subsequent system check,” Oops, pressed the wrong button. #SomeonesFired