Virgin aircraft lands safely after landing gear fault
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Updated 29 December, 19.10 GMT
A Virgin Atlantic aircraft has carried out a ‘non-standard landing’ at Gatwick Airport after having a technical issue with one of its landing gears.
The Boeing 747 was on its way from the London airport to Las Vegas when it was forced to turn back and land at Gatwick.
A Virgin spokesman said: “Virgin Atlantic can confirm that flight VS43 on December 29, travelling to McCarran International Airport Las Vegas, returned to Gatwick due to a technical issue with one of the landing gears.”
The airline’s founder Sir Richard Branson thanked the VS43 flight crew.
Well done @virginatlantic pilots & team for safe & skillful landing of #VS43. Thoughts with passengers & crew, thanks for support & patience
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) December 29, 2014
Passengers onboard the aircraft have now been shuttled back to the terminal and will stay in hotels overnight.
Gatwick Airport has now closed its runway while the aircraft is being removed. No outbound flights are taking off and inbound flights have been diverted.
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