JetBlue Plane Which Fueling Van Hit Last Month Makes Emergency Landing Without Nose Landing Gear

A JetBlue Airways flight from Washington to Nassau, Bahamas ran into trouble Friday afternoon, as the nose landing gear of the aircraft failed to extend.

The aircraft, Embraer ERJ-190AR, registration N273JB, is the same aircraft which a refuelling van slammed in February while it was at the Gate C11 at Terminal C of Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS).

JetBlue flight B629 departed from Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – DCA) with 93 passengers and 4 crew on board.

When the aircraft was preparing for its landing at Nassau (Lynden Pindling International Airport / Nassau International Airport – NAS), the flight deck crew noticed there was a problem with the nose landing gear, as they did not receive a nose gear down and locked indication.

The crew went around, and a low approach showed the nose gear was not extended and stuck almost completely in the wheel well of the Embraer E190 aircraft.

The plane performed a landing with only its main landing gear extended, sparks coming from the front of it. Fire crews responded to the scene and sprayed foam on the front of the aircraft as 93 passengers and 4 crew were evacuated. No fire broke out. 

There were no injuries reported.

JetBlue released a statement about the incident:

On March 25, JetBlue flight #29 from Washington National Airport (DCA) to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) reported a landing gear malfunction prior to arrival. The aircraft landed in Nassau just after 4:30 p.m. utilizing the EMBRAER 190 aircraft’s main gear, with its nose gear partially extended. Response crews met the aircraft on the runway to ensure the safety of those onboard. There were 93 customers and 4 crew onboard and all deplaned via stairs. There are no reports of injuries.