Summary:
- JetBlue Flight 292
- September 21, 2005
- Airbus A320
- Burbank to New York
- 140 passengers and six crew
- Issue: Nose gear jammed and subsequent emergency landing
After take-off, the pilots could not retract the landing gear and bell sounds went off in the cockpit. The cabin crew knew this was not normal and also noted that the emergency lights in the cabin that indicate when the landing gear was up, were still illuminated. They knew that there was something wrong and reached for their manuals whilst waiting to hear from the flight crew.
The aircraft was fitted with DirecTV satellite television, and passengers could watch the live news coverage. Little did they know their aircraft was about to play a starring role on news channels such as FOX, ABC and MSNBC. The media covered the incident extensively, and passengers were seeing the events unfold before them. Some found it helpful and some found it alarming, but the lead flight attendant switched the system off 50 minutes before landing.
The captain decided to divert the aircraft to Los Angeles International Airport because it had larger and longer runways and more safety resources available if needed. He informed the crew that they needed to prepare for a pre-planned emergency landing. The cabin crew gave out water and soft drinks and pillows and blankets.
The cabin crew remained calm and collected and prepared for an emergency landing. They showed passengers the brace position and checked the passengers knew how to do it repeatedly, paying special attention to a man carrying an infant, so he knew how to brace and protect the infant. They told them how to use the emergency slides and to remove high heels and any sharp objects. The cabin crew briefed the passengers on what to do if there was a fire or smoke in the cabin when evacuating and to find another exit.
Able-bodied passengers (ABPs) were placed on the exit rows and briefed on how to open the overwing exits. They were also briefed using the safety card and all belongings and papers were moved away from the exit rows. Some ABPs were also assigned to the main doors and told how to operate them in an emergency and what their actions would be.
"This woman in front of me was crying. I was holding her hand and just trying to calm her down. And people were definitely praying when we were landing, out loud and, it was a very emotional time for all of us. We just were giving each other hugs, people that we didn't know and the flight attendants were giving us hugs and trying to be as reassuring as possible to everyone, just knowing that we could get through it together."
Passenger as told to CBS news.
The captain informed the cabin crew that if the nose wheel landing gear collapsed, an evacuation from the rear doors would not be possible and to use the forward doors. This is because the slides would not reach the ground. He told them to follow the pre-planned emergency procedures until the egress of the aircraft and that he would advise on how they would deplane or if to evacuate.
The aircraft landed on runway 25L and there were sparks from the nose gear and a few flames on touchdown. The cabin crew at the front of the aircraft reported a smell of burning rubber and said that it was hot in the cabin. They said that the landing was very gentle. The crew members remained at their stations awaiting the captain's instructions.
Reverse thrust was not used, in order to keep the nose gear off the ground. The Airbus A320 took a while to slow down and came to a final stop 1,000 feet before the end of the 11,000-foot runway at 18:20. There were cheers from some passengers, and some sobbed and were extremely relieved to be back on the ground. Air Traffic Control informed the flight crew that there was no fire, so the captain told the cabin crew to disembark the passengers normally.
There were no injuries and the aircraft had minimal damage. The nose landing gear tires rapidly deflated on touchdown and tore apart. Both wheels were worn down to the axle. Passengers disembarked the aircraft just seven minutes later via airstairs as there was no need for an emergency evacuation. Passengers reported that the hours in the sky went quickly, but the landing seemed to take much longer. The cabin crew were later described as "absolutely amazing."
"It was a really smooth landing actually, probably the smoothest I've ever had, which is amazing. I just had this rush of emotions afterward. I just was sobbing, and the people behind me were sobbing, and it was such a relief to know that everything was OK. I expected to see flames and … it was so much better than we expected, and I'm just so grateful to the pilot. He did an amazing job."
Passenger as told to CBS news.
The NTSB final report said that worn out seals were to blame for the malfunction and the Brake Steering Control Unit (BSCU) contributed to the issue. Airbus has since upgraded the system, after a few similar cases. The aircraft was repaired and quickly returned to service. The incident is now often used as a case study during cabin crew and pilot training as an example of good crew resource management (CRM).
