Plane Lands Safely at LAX Following Landing Gear Problem

Plane returns to LAX after reporting problem with landing gear.

Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight are breathing a little easier after their plane made an emergency landing at LAX.

Flight 2436 with 193 people aboard landed safely at 11:11 a.m. at Los Angeles International Airport after the pilot reported a possible problem with a landing gear, authorities said.

The jetliner was bound for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport but returned to LAX after being airborne for about 16 minutes, according to American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith.

"A landing gear door did not fully close on the right hand wing," Smith said, triggering an alarm in the cockpit and prompting the pilot the declare an emergency. Emergency status gives pilots priority for landing, Smith said.

Smith said the landing gear door failure was likely an electric or hydraulic failure and further inspections will ascertain exactly what caused the problem. The landing gear was fully retracted, Smith added, and no one was in danger at any time during the flight.

Failure of the door to close can create drag which affects fuel efficiency, and the door could possibly break during flight, Smith said.

The plane will be inspected to determine if there actually was a problem, according to Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration.
 

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