Pilot artificial arm detaches from the control yoke of the plane while during landing. A British air accident report recounted the story of the how the pilot artificial arm detaches during landing now, but according to the BBC, the Flybe flight from Birmingham happened on Feb. 12.
The February incident where the plane landed in "gusty conditions" when pilot artificial arm detaches only came to light because of an incident report from the government which became public Thursday.
According to media reports, the airline flight made a hard landing in Northern Ireland as the pilot lost control of the passenger plane.
The BBC reports that the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report said the captain resulted to disconnecting the autopilot and flying the plane manually after the pilot artificial arm detaches.
The AAIB said that at one point, the pilot considered getting the co-pilot to take control. However, he decided that the best thing to do was to just move his right hand to the yoke in order to regain control.
According to the Associated Press, the report said, 'He did this, but with power still applied and possibly a gust affecting the aircraft, a normal touchdown was followed by a bounce, from which the aircraft landed heavily.'
The plane landed heavily after the pilot artificial arm detaches during landing, but USA Today reports said no one was hurt and the Bombardier Q400 turboprop flying for small English carrier Flybe was not damaged as well.
There plane carried 47 passengers, on a flight from Birmingham, England, to the Belfast City Airport in Northern Ireland.
The Associated Press said that in its account of the report, 'the 46-year-old pilot had shortly before checked that his prosthetic lower left arm was securely attached to the yoke clamp, but as he performed a manoeuvre just before touchdown the limb became detached.'
How did the pilot land the plane safely?
The Thursday report from the U.K.'s AAIB said that after the pilot artificial arm detaches during landing, he then decided to just use his right hand to regain control of the yoke.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, the attempt to regain control was successful after the pilot artificial arm detaches during landing. However, the report said that 'with power still applied and possibly a gust affecting the aircraft, a normal touchdown was followed by a bounce, from which the aircraft landed heavily.'
On the side of the pilot, he said that he would be more cautious in the future when it comes to checking the attachment on his prosthesis, since he may have dislodged the latching mechanism which resulted to pilot artificial arm detaches during landing.
The pilot added that from now on, he would be briefing his co-pilots about the possibility of an occurrence such as apilot artificial arm detaches during landing. He said co-pilots should be ready to take control at any time.
Meanwhile, Flybe told the Telegraph that throughout the ordeal, no passenger was at risk. The company also said they are proud of their equal opportunities employment practices.
Captain Ian Baston, Flybe director of flight operations and safety," told the Telegraph of the incident when pilot artificial arm detaches during landing, 'This, in common with most airlines, means we do employ staff with reduced physical abilities.'
Baston continued, 'Where appropriate, and in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements, this does include pilots.'
Pilot artificial arm detaches during landing, but the senior captain, according to Baston, is one of the company's most experienced and trusted pilots, therefore at no time was the safety of the passengers or crew compromised.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
