JetBlue Dumping Fuel...A320 nose gear twisted 100+ onboard

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

MSNBC Breaking...

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

1. A320 stats...Fuel Capacity 6,302 Gals...Max Landing weight..

142,200 pounds..

[eyepaddle]

6. 6:45 Central time kick nt

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

8. A320 File Photo

[DS1]

13. Oh, it's a plane

I get it now

[Oreo]

2. where?

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

4. Los Angeles

[Pirate Smile]

3. I heard that and it made me wonder a) where are they, what are they

specifically above? and b) will it evaporate or what will happen when it reaches the ground?

Perhaps dumb questions with obvious answers but I don't know them specifically. I could guess...

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. Much of it will evaporate, but not all...depends on how high they are

when they dump the fuel. It is Kerosene basically, and it atomizes fairly well when dumped but some will reach the ground (Or sea, as the case may be)

[A HERETIC I AM]

24. Guy on MSNBC now saying "Some Airbus A/C can not dump fuel"

strange....to design a plane with no way to get rid of fuel in such an emergency situation

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

5. landing gear stuck

flying over long beach, my prayers are with them.

right wingers don't have the monopoly on faith.

[GCP]

7. Diverting to LAX

Watching now on MSNBC, my thoughts and prayers are with them.

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. Diverted to Long Beach......

apparently, the western hub for Jet Blue

[gardenista]

9. Please let them be alright. My husband is flying Jet Blue in the air now.

He is not on that flight, but this makes it so, so personal. Please God, let every single person on that flight be safe.

[GCP]

12. My husband's also flying at this moment

US Air, but still, it's personal.

[gardenista]

16. Thinking good thoughts for everyone in the air right now

your husband included.

[GCP]

20. Thanks,

I'm really pulling for those poor folks on that plane right now.

[Corgigal]

14. Good

and I understand where you're coming from. My oldest son just flew Jet Blue a few months ago. So far the pilots are doing the right things.

[gardenista]

18. From what I can hear on the radio, it sounds like it.

I'm glad your son arrived home safely.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

11. From The AP:Damaged Plane Circling Calif. Airport

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AIRLINER_EMERGENCY?SITE=NYBUE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&SECTION=HOME
Damaged Plane Circling Calif. Airport

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- A Jet Blue airliner was dumping fuel over the ocean Wednesday afternoon as officials tried to determine how to make an emergency landing with the plane's front wheels turned sideways and unable to retract.

The plane left Burbank Airport after 3 p.m. for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Donn Walker.

Jet Blue flight 292 was circling the Long Beach Airport, about 30 miles south of Burbank. Walker said the Airbus A320 was dumping fuel over the Pacific.

[fleabert]

19. prehaps they should have waited to dump fuel until after a decision

on how, when, and where to land?

:scared:

[Corgigal]

21. I'm listening to kcbs

Pilot expert claims they can't dump fuel, aircraft isn't capable. They are circling and trying to burn fuel. The will probably land before nightfall.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

25. On MSNBC...A320 cannot "dump fuel" I guess it is burning some

fuel off...landing at LAX in 20 minutes.

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. Don't you think that is an odd design feature?

No emergency fuel dump? hmmmmm......Fly Boeing products.

[GCP]

30. Really, I've flown Airbus a few times, and I don't like them

For various reasons - this sounds like a REALLY bad design flaw.

[fleabert]

28. got it.

i've got the same channel on now...

hope all goes well for them :fingerscrossed:

[JanusAscending]

145. THEY DIDN'T DUMP ANY FUEL!!! AT ALL

They circled for three hours over LAX with flaps down to use up as much fuel as possible. Jet Blue is not able to dump fuel. I wish you folks would get reliable news sources before posting! I watched the whole drams unfold on MSNBC!! Thank god Jet Blue has WONDERFUL PILOTS!

[JanusAscending]

146. THEY DIDN'T DUMP ANY FUEL!!! AT ALL

They circled for three hours over LAX with flaps down to use up as much fuel as possible. Jet Blue is not able to dump fuel. I wish you folks would get reliable news sources before posting! I watched the whole drams unfold on MSNBC!! Thank god Jet Blue has WONDERFUL PILOTS!

[Bluebear]

151. .

.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

17. This is scary

I was on an EAL San Juan to Miami flight one time with nose gear problems. This is scary.

[LizW]

22. MSNBC now saying they can't dump fuel

Have to fly and burn off fuel. Plan to land at 5:25 Pacific on a fully foamed runway.

:scared:

[Gregorian]

23. Belly landing on foam?

That is no fun at all.

Best of luck folks.

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. The foam is there to suppress fire.....they'll be fine

[Gregorian]

29. Not a slam dunk.

I've flown enough to witness light aircraft mishaps several times.

But this thing doesn't come to rest so quickly. I'm guessing it'll take a good pilot to use the engines to keep it going straight. I have no idea. Horror. But they'll probably be fine.

[A HERETIC I AM]

31. Agreed, not an easy task.....but they do train for this in simulators

do they not?
Main gear on the ground, keep the nose up till the last possible second......brakes on hard to snap off the nose gear and ride the chin to a stop.

[Gregorian]

35. Right. Main gear down. Maybe.

This is a very rare kind of situation.

No way they can break a nose gear. They may have to come in retracted. I really feel for those people.

I've been there. Nearly crashed once.

[A HERETIC I AM]

39. I am willing to bet the nose gear can NOT be retracted.....

because the wheels are 90degrees off. If you are a pilot, you might be able to answer this: Wouldnt their dash warning light come on if the sensors didnt register the wheels inline with the centerline?

I am not a pilot, just a lifelong aviation enthusiast.
on edit to disagree that the nose gear can't be broken off. It can, and it will, is my bet.

[Gregorian]

60. I've only flown light planes. So it's a guess at best.

And not knowing what is wrong, it makes it even more of a guess.

The nose gear defaults to straight ahead position in every plane I've seen. I don't know if there's a warning light for steering position. But you know there's one for fully extended or retracted position.

There are plenty of commercial pilots on DU. I've seen them post. They'd know.

And nosegear are meant to be nosedived into a runway. A straight down impact would never even harm it. Especially with a shock absorber. But then again, more speculation. I do have a degree in mechanical engineering, and have seen a lot of nose gear. That only counts for so much.

Oops, I see below that it's already retracted. Ouch.

[A HERETIC I AM]

66. I used to be a Parts Manager for a Cessna and Bell FBO......

so my experience is with only parts and on small planes, but as an engineer, i think you might agree that a sufficiently large amount of stress on that nose gear would probably bust it off.

[Gregorian]

68. Nose gear are badass.

Huge forged aluminum castings. I think the fuselage distorts before the gear breaks. It all depends on the application of force. At best, this is minor forces.

I used to fly and work on an old Bonanza out of the Palo Alto airport with my dad.

Must have been a lot of fun in the parts dept.

[A HERETIC I AM]

74. Used to be able to recite a 100 hour inspection kit for a 172 by rote!

Plugs, oil change, couple of o-rings, etc. It's been years, though.

Beechcraft are gorgeous planes. If i ever won the lottery, it would be a Bonanza in my hanger, to be sure.

[Gregorian]

82. Hahaha. Yep the old single steering wheel and v tail

I used to love hanging around the airport.

The plane I'm totally hooked on is the NORTH AMERICAN OV-10A BRONCO. Twin turboprop. Only a half million bucks and I could have one in my driveway. A gorgeous plane. The Calif. Dept. of Forestry has them, and I just drool when I see them. They use them for fire spotters.

[A HERETIC I AM]

85. SAW TWO OF THEM TWO DAYS AGO!!!!

flying in and around Ukiah, Ca. just the other day.

Painted in red and white (US Forestry fire?)

They are cool....versatile and durable.

On edit to add the pic

[Gregorian]

90. OMG. Ukiah is where I used to see them.

I had a ranch about 12 miles out Orr Springs road. They used to buzz me out there.

Do you live around there? I recently moved to Oregon, but searching for land down there.

[A HERETIC I AM]

118. No...i was driving up 101 from San Jose on the way to Portland

The scenic route! we stayed the night in Ukiah. Bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket (Fo 250 mil). Didnt win, dammit.

In Seattle now.

You were right, Gregorian! The nose gear held! Nice call.

Kind of ground it down to a stub though, but still a totally servicable aircraft.

[Gregorian]

135. That is one of the nicest drives there is.

Well, this was a bit of fun. See you around.

[The_Casual_Observer]

32. Landings are bad enough without this. I can't imagine how

frightened those passengers must be.

[LizW]

33. 90 minutes to burn off enough fuel.

I hope they have lots of liquor on board and are serving it free.

[hvn_nbr_2]

First thought: yes. Second thought: liquor and emergency evacuation...

procedures, deploying and sliding down those inflatable chutes, don't seem like a good combination.

[LizW]

49. Yes, you're right. Remember Souix City?

Everyone would want to have clear heads and quick reflexes.

[Zenlitened]

76. I don't think the drink cart ever rolled out. Prob detected at take-off.

Though I'd have been begging for a shot of something strong if I was on board, circling the airport all this time. :scared:

[Catchawave]

34. 135 customers aboard....

Hope the beverage cart is still functioning....snork aside, thoughts are with the passengers :grouphug:

[Catchawave]

42. 139 passengers....n/t

[Zenlitened]

36. 139 passengers on board, may be watching all this on TV :(

According to MSNBC right now.

Each seat has a TV, analyst is saying. Passengers could be watching this coverage live via satellite feed of MSNBC.

Analyst is speaking directly to passengers, if they are indeed watching. Trying to reassure them they'll be OK.

:scared:

[gardenista]

38. A new level of horror. I can't imagine that.

I hope everyone involved is at the top of their game today.

[GCP]

45. An American Airlines flight crashed in Chicago in the 70s

And at the time, they used to have a camera showing people in the cabin the view of the take-off from a camera on the outside of the plane - the ground falling away etc.
Well, an engine fell off the wing just after take-off - poor maintenance - and stories at the time were saying that the passengers were probably watching it all on camera at the time it was happening.

[Zenlitened]

37. Live feed at MSNBC website

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8004316/

[goclark]

40. What's happening now!

[LizW]

43. Still circling, burning off fuel. Landing in 5 - 10 min. n/t

[goclark]

44. Can't bare to watch! nt

[LizW]

52. LAFD on scene, ready to go. 110 firefighters are there. n/t

[Pithy Cherub]

47. They are going to keep enough fuel to try several attempts

to land. The experts on the local channels are saying that the nose gear will most likely snap off which is why they are foaming the longest and "softest" runway for this. The KCAL folks have a great expert.

[gardenista]

41. Thanks for your updates. I can't view it on my Mac. Anything happening?

[Oeditpus Rex]

55. Can't view it with Firefox n/t

[gardenista]

59. Yeah, I just learned that the hard way. Crashed me. nt

[karlrschneider]

46. It should caster when it touches down. This is NOT any major emergency.

...

[A HERETIC I AM]

51. The tires might blow immediately though....

yank the beads right off the wheels.

[karlrschneider]

72. Probably, but that isn't a big deal. Less than 10% of the a/c weight is

on the nose gear. ANY plane. (Well, except for tail draggers...duh)

[A HERETIC I AM]

77. Even tail draggers, i would think. You can pick the tail up on many

light tail draggers. I've done it to old Cessnas and Pipers.

[karlrschneider]

150. True enough. I once landed a J3 cub absolutely 'vertically'. Had 30+ Kt

wind, took off in about 5 feet, slow-flew it back a couple yards and let it down same place I started. We did goofy shit like that back when we were brave & invincible. :D

[Zenlitened]

53. LAFD saying they train for this scenario, are very prepared.

Mandatory drills for all firefighters.

[Wilber_Stool]

48. Looks like final approach.

Damn, wrong again.

[Scooter24]

50. You can watch its approach

here

http://www4.passur.com/lax.html

click on one of the blue planes that say A320 as the aircraft type..

[Zenlitened]

54. Still circling.

[Zenlitened]

56. Photo shows front landing gear actually twisted sideways.

Pilot detected problem on take-off, when indicator light showed gear did not retract. Per MSNBC.

[lizziegrace]

57. Hopefully this isn't a duplicate

My father, a private pilot and former jet engine engineer, said that if the pilot lands this aircraft as he or she's been trained, they should be okay. Heavy on the back gear and only setting the nose down when the speed is greatly reduced. (Picture the space shuttle landing...)

I feel badly for the families of the passengers and crew watching this play out on the national media.

[Zenlitened]

58. Analysts on MSNBC saying similar, comparing to shuttle landing.

Welcome to DU, sorry the circumstances aren't happier at the moment.

[lizziegrace]

63. Zen-Thank you!

Seems that there are no happy circumstances right now. That's why I'm here. Support.

[Zenlitened]

69. Support, definitely. I'm glad I'm not watching this alone.

:hi:

[rainbow4321]

61. Especially with the news guy asking

the guy that he is talking to: "How serious is this? On a scale 1-10"..Yeah, that is what the families need to hear..NOT!!
The guys both tried to dodge answering the question.

[LA lady]

64. Foam landing

Years ago I was waiting to take off from JFK in New York when all the departing flights were pulled out of line. We watched them foam the runway for a flight coming in for a landing with NO landing gear. It landed beautifully, no injuries (except emotional ones!). This can be done. Keep these people in our thoughts; they must be terrified.

[Zenlitened]

70. Hi, LA lady... welcome to DU.

Can you imagine what those passengers and crew are experiencing? Been circling the airport for two and a half hours now. I imagine they've gon through a whole range of emotions by now -- I think I'd just be numb at this point. :(

[Zenlitened]

62. Jet Blue says 140 passengers, six crew. Per MSNBC.

Those poor folks have been circling for about 2-1/2 hours, ever since take-off when the landing gear didn't retract.

Can't imagine what they're going through. :(

[goclark]

65. I'm in Los Angeles and watching on TV

Trying to stay calm.

[Zenlitened]

87. It's nerve-wracking just watching on TV. I can barely imagine...

... what the people on board are going through. :(

[Pithy Cherub]

67. 25L is the LAX runway. The pilot will be deciding when he's ready

and they will switch to an emergency frequecy. He is now headed back over newport coast fo another approach. The pilot is choosing. Per KCAL 9 and KCBS 2. The possible plan now is to bring it in by 6pm.

All my best :scared: :grouphug:

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

71. Load limiters

I know they have load limiting bolts holding the engines on. If an engine get a bad vibration in it it will break the bolts and the engine will fall off. Does anybody know if there are such load limiters on the landing gear?

I am not betting on the carriage castering.

[gardenista]

73. The experts on KCAL sound very hopeful. If they are watching

something in the air, I hope this is it. I hope the pilot is sharing the hopeful scenarios with the passengers.

It sounds like the pilot is weighing all options and making good decisions.

[WhiteTara]

75. I'm scheduled to fly JetBlue tomorrow

to DC. Great...well, I'll bet they check the landing gear very carefully on the fleet.

[gardenista]

78. I don't know what the result of all this will be, but I am impressed

so far with the way Jet Blue, the pilot, LAX, and the LAFD have handled this. My husband is in the air right now on another Jet Blue flight, and I have complete faith that he is safe.

Wishing you a good flight. And you are right, your plane will probably be gone over with a fine-tooth comb.

[goclark]

81. I live 8 minutes from LAX

and I'm hearing sirens going off and Emergency cars racing through the streets.

LA usually has GREAT Emergency Crews - I feel confident that all will go well.

They just announced the Mayor is on the way to the airport.

Huuum , different than old Chimp.

Mayor rushes to the scene.

[Zenlitened]

79. American Airlines pilot (retired?) on MSNBC saying been there, done that

Says he landed a plane with front gear twisted sideways back in 1979. Didn't know there was a problem till they touched down. Huge, scary vibration rattled the plane, tires burst... and that was it. Came in safe and sound.

[A HERETIC I AM]

84. Except for the 4000 foot gouge down the middle of the runway?

I shouldnt jest right now, but that just strikes me as a little funny.

I have complete confidence that the pilot and his right-seater will do everything right and all aboard will be safe and without a scratch.

Any injuries will come from getting out and down the slides, i'll bet.

[LizW]

80. Apilot is talking now who landed one like this before

He said it was okay. They didn't know the front gear was twisted until they landed. Terrible vibration in the cockpit, but the plane stayed straight and they got it stopped.

[gardenista]

83. KCAL says they will not be coming in for a landing any time soon

because the pilot wants to burn off more fuel, which cannot be dumped from this type of aircraft.

I can't take any more, even of listening to this on the radio.

I'm signing off for a while.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

99. GREAT LANDING!!!!

Great work

[DawgHouse]

86. Where did this flight originate? NT

[Zenlitened]

91. Burbank. Problem was detected immediately after takeoff.

From San Fran Chronicle:

"... The plane carrying 139 passengers left Bob Hope Airport in Burbank at 3:17 p.m. for New York's JFK airport, said JetBlue spokesman Bryan Baldwin."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/21/state/n170731D97.DTL

[DawgHouse]

93. thank you NT

[DawgHouse]

Sorry, just found out. Burbank to JFK. NT

[Stinky The Clown]

92. It took off from Burbank at 3.17 PDT n/t

[420inTN]

88. Beginning final approach

Should know something in 10-15 minutes.

[Corgigal]

89. Kcbs

is reporting 5 mins.

[Up2Late]

94. Looks like it's coming in now, those back wheels do not look down

but that's just an layman's view.

[GCP]

98. That was a beautiful landing

Well done that pilot :)

[Up2Late]

95. Landing now!

[Zenlitened]

96. A thing of beauty!! Hats off to pilot and crew!!!!!!

Plane is stopped. Blown tires in front, otherwise not a nick!!!

:)

[A HERETIC I AM]

97. SAFE!!! SAFE LANDING!!!

well done!!! I am surprised it didnt collapse.


Well fucking done, those guys earned their pay today!

[LizW]

101. Awesome! Amazing job.

[DawgHouse]

100. YAY! All is well! NT

[Up2Late]

102. Beautiful landing, tires burned up, but nose stayed locked

:applause:

[Twist_U_Up]

103. True Hero He deserves a vacation of his choice

[AlCzervik]

104. a beautiful landing!!! Hats off to that pilot!!!

[420inTN]

105. Man that was an awesome landing

Kept it on the center line.

Congratulations dude/ma'am.

[Oeditpus Rex]

106. In-freaking-credible!

Major :toast: to that pilot! :yourock:

[AlamoDemoc]

107. Darn! Give that Pilot a medal

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Centered]

124. or at least a million dollars

he saved the plane and everyone onboard.... not to mention how much JetBlue would have had to pay out in the worst were to happen. As a matter of fact... the entire crew should get a million each from the airline.

How much are those planes worth?

[Corgigal]

108. Thanks to the crew

Great Job. I'm so relieved for some good news today.

Yep, I'm going to have a smoke now.

[dkhbrit]

111. How wonderful

What a fantastic job by the pilot there. Hats off.

[latebloomer]

122. Anyone catch his name?

My cousin's husband is a Jet Blue pilot.

[420inTN]

109. That crew will be making the talk show circuit. n/t

[Oeditpus Rex]

114. Dunno about the pilot

Apparently they asked him in flight if he'd be available for a press conference or something afterward, and he said, "Media wolves off my back. I have nothing to say."
More :toast: to him.

[420inTN]

140. He's probably wanting to talk to family

and grab a cold one.

I know that I would be.

[A HERETIC I AM]

110. "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Los Angeles, 32 miles south of

where you departed"

How many will take the train to New York now?

[Stinky The Clown]

112. Wow ... just Wow

I am back to normal breathing. Watching this was nail biting.

As an aside (since they're now down and safe, I feel okay saying this) Allison Stewart of MSNBC deserves an emmy for her coverage. She was what every news person ought to be. Facts and intelligent narrative, meaningful conversation with 'experts' ... and not ONE WORD of hyperbole.

[Up2Late]

137. Let me say, CNN's Larry King gets a D+

Talking to an Airline Pilot, "Captain, Why didn't the those front wheels make the Jet veer off the Runway!?!"

[tridim]

113. This is totally freaky.. I had the same thing happen this weekend

with my new Radio Controlled plane (a tail dragger, no nose wheel). One screw in my front landing gear vibrated loose in flight from engine vibration and I had to land with the gear rotated 90 degrees off normal. I landed fine with no damage except for a wheel that got chewed up on the landing strip. I feel a kind of bond with the pilots who just made this safe landing. :)

[regnaD kciN]

153. I had nearly the same thing happen FOR REAL...

...thirty-six years ago.

On a TWA flight my family and I were taking from Paris to Boston, one of the nose tires blew on takeoff. We had to divert to Heathrow for a tower flyby, followed by an emergency landing with fire crews lining the runway. During the whole time I, in my 13-year-old naivete, was the calmest passenger on board. I had built enough model aircraft to know that there were ten wheels on the 707, so I was telling everyone that losing one of them was no big deal. Of course, had I known about the chain-reaction tire and gear failure that can occur when landing a large aircraft at high speed on a damaged tire, I wouldn't have taken it so calmly!

And, for another strange coincidence, paisley told me this evening that she, too, had gone through a similar emergency landing caused by a damaged front landing gear on a flight between cities in Colombia during her childhood. What are the odds that both members of a randomly-chosen couple would have had this happen to them separately, long before they met?

:shrug:

[Zenlitened]

115. Stairs have been rolled up to the plane, passengers coming down.

Me, I'd be heading straight to the airport bar!

[LizW]

131. Did you see the lady taking photos as she came out?

Recording the experience!

[alcibiades_mystery]

141. If it ain't digital, and subsequently virtual, it ain't real

natch.

;-)

[tinrobot]

116. I just wanted to say good luck, we're all counting on you.

(had to throw in at least one Airplane! quote)

[Zenlitened]

119. Oh, man. That's too funny. Now repeat the post several times!

:rofl:

Whew! I'm so glad this all turned out well, to the point where an Airplane! joke seems just right! :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

120. LOL!

Reporters rush to phone booths... knock 'em over...
:rofl:

[Up2Late]

121. I was just going to ask if that was Airplane 1 or 2

:rofl:

[A HERETIC I AM]

127. "Ok Fellas, let's get some pictures"

:::::All the reporters steal photos off the walls::::

[susanna]

133. Guess I picked the wrong week...

...to quit sniffing glue. :-)

[Up2Late]

117. Anyone know, would a landing like that damage the Runway?

I will it have to be closed for a while?

I made some screen captures of this, should I start in a new thread in GD or post them here?

[A HERETIC I AM]

125. They are concrete runways so a nice scratch, but no major damage

they'll clean it up and i bet have it open in a couple hours

[burrowowl]

148. Let's say that

it is a good thing the runway was in good repair. Runways do get damaged and some cheapskate airports do not repair them. And then again POTUS Air Force 1 was told that the Las Cruces, NM could not handle the plane and the one along side it carrying tanks for Bu$hies protection, etc. AND,
the runway suffered miilions of $$$$ of damage. The pilot, not going against Bu$hCo directives, should be court-marshalled and his licence suspended, but since Bu$hie is onmipotent, hell!

[Up2Late]

154. When did that happen? Do they usually land 747's there?

Was it just a landing weight thing?

[SIU_Blue]

138. A landing like this will not damage the runway

However, pieces of tire on the runway can get sucked into engines and cause fires (i.e. Concorde crash a few years ago). They will do a thorough inspection before opening the runway up.

[SIU_Blue]

139. In case anyone was wondering why there was no foam on the Runway

Foam, although it helps in controlling fires, is slippery, and could cause the aircraft to drift from the centerline.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

123. HOORAY !

:bounce: :applause: This is great!

[Olney Blue]

126. This is such a wonderful ending!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[Spazito]

128. Wow, that pilot did an AWESOME job, imo

He kept that nose strut dead center on the center line via the brake pedals to correct any pull to right or left, awesome control!

[Zenlitened]

129. MSNBC talking to passenger. He's on bus on tarmac now.

Says pilot told them of a landing-gear prob about 10 mins after takeoff. Pilot at first thought it might be a sensor problem.

20 mins later diverted to Long Beach (?), control tower confirmed problem.

Passengers were watching it on TV for most of the time -- each seat has a video screen with satellite TV. TV's stayed on until just prior to landing.

Yeee-ikes!

[goclark]

132. YEA!!!!! Prayers were answered!!!! I love LA!!!

[BiggJawn]

143. That'd be a first.

I'm sure that pilot would be relieved to know he and his training had nothing to do with the outcome.

[goclark]

144. My prayers were for the crew and the passengers

I happen to live in Los Angeles so I was especially happy to see such a happy ending.

[Up2Late]

130. Here's a few screen captures

This was while they were burning off fuel.

[Zenlitened]

136. Wow. That last pic, of people strolling down the stairs...

... wow. Could have been a much different story.

[goclark]

134. They interviewed the Mayor just now in Los Angeles

Such a classy act!!!!

He was standing off to the side and not getting in the way of the passengers exiting.

Can you imagine if Aaarold had managed to get his butt down here, he would have been pumping irons all over the run way.

[evworldeditor]

142. What a relief!

I was on 'pins and needles' watching that landing. Amazing video footage. Thank God, a little good news on a wild news day.

Having worked in the airline business for nine years, I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Bill

[gardenista]

147. THANK GOD! I'm going to pick up my husband now! On another

Jet Blue Flight.

Thank God!

What a wonderful outcome, and proof that when people know how to do their jobs, when they are trained, when they have adequate funding to prepare for inevitable mishaps, they can OVERCOME potential disasters!

ARE YOU LISTENING, GEORGE BUSH?!

[burrowowl]

149. AHAH! Was the maintenance performed

per Service Bulletin!
Edit to say: nice landing and nose gear on the straight and narrow! Beatiful!

[Bluebear]

152. I just want to tell them good luck, we're all counting on you. nt