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Pilot praised after crash landing Pilot praised after crash landing
(20 minutes later)
A pilot has been praised by fire crews after safely landing his aircraft after its landing gear collapsed with seven people on board.A pilot has been praised by fire crews after safely landing his aircraft after its landing gear collapsed with seven people on board.
Firefighters were called to Southend Airport, Essex, after a distress call from a pilot who said he had problems deploying his landing gear.Firefighters were called to Southend Airport, Essex, after a distress call from a pilot who said he had problems deploying his landing gear.
When the plane landed the front landing gear collapsed and the plane skidded down the runway on its nose. When the Beech 200 landed the front landing gear collapsed and the plane skidded down the runway on its nose.
Firefighters were called but no-one was injured in the landing on Saturday.Firefighters were called but no-one was injured in the landing on Saturday.
Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hodder said: "The pilot did an incredible job, as the plane hit the runway the front landing gear collapsed and the plane skidded down the runway on its nose.Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hodder said: "The pilot did an incredible job, as the plane hit the runway the front landing gear collapsed and the plane skidded down the runway on its nose.
"The pilot somehow kept the plane travelling in a straight line.""The pilot somehow kept the plane travelling in a straight line."
The appliances followed the plane down the runway and then airport firefighters surrounded the plane with foam, just in case there was a fuel leak.The appliances followed the plane down the runway and then airport firefighters surrounded the plane with foam, just in case there was a fuel leak.
There were a total of seven people on board including a man, a woman, three children, a pilot and a co-pilot.There were a total of seven people on board including a man, a woman, three children, a pilot and a co-pilot.
None of the people on board were hurt in the incident.None of the people on board were hurt in the incident.