SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Quick thinking and professional piloting averted a disaster at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) on Tuesday when a SkyHigh Dominicana jet was forced to execute a ‘nose-gear up’ emergency landing.
The Embraer E190 aircraft was conducting a routine test flight when it encountered a critical technical malfunction: the front landing gear failed to deploy.
Malfunction Forces Emergency Protocol
The incident occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m. local time at the Dominican Republic’s main international gateway. The aircraft was not operating a commercial passenger flight; instead, it was carrying a technical crew of seven on board for a maintenance check.
According to airport operator Aerodom and the airline, the flight crew discovered the problem with the nose landing gear during the final stages of the flight. They immediately declared an emergency to air traffic control.
The pilots were then faced with the dangerous task of performing a landing on only the two main sets of rear wheels, a maneuver that sees the aircraft’s nose slide along the runway after the main gear touches down.
Crew Praised for Safety
Photos from the scene show the Embraer 190 resting on the runway with its front fuselage tilted downward, a clear sign of the dramatic landing, with emergency fire crews rapidly in position around the disabled jet.
Crucially, thanks to the professionalism of the pilot and crew, all seven technical personnel on board the aircraft were confirmed to be safe and uninjured.
SkyHigh Dominicana (\href), which confirmed the incident, noted that the aircraft was in the process of being retired from its active fleet and was not currently used for passenger services.
“Thanks to the timely intervention of the airport’s emergency teams and the professionalism of the pilot and crew, the landing was carried out safely and without consequences for the occupants,” Sky High said in a statement.
Airport operations were not significantly affected, as an alternate runway at AILA was utilized while the affected runway was cleared and inspected. An investigation is now underway to determine the precise cause of the landing gear malfunction.
Conclusion
This dramatic emergency landing in Santo Domingo is a testament to the rigorous training and calm under pressure demonstrated by flight crews in the face of critical equipment failure. The successful ‘nose-gear up’ landing, which resulted in zero injuries, highlights the aircraft’s design and the crew’s adherence to emergency protocols. While the aircraft sustained damage, the outcome is being hailed as a major safety success, reinforcing that even in the most perilous situations, modern aviation professionals are prepared.
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Disclaimer
The details in this report are based on statements from SkyHigh Dominicana (\href), airport operator Aerodom, and local media reports. The aircraft involved was an Embraer E190 on a test flight with no commercial passengers. An official investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the nose landing gear malfunction. The successful outcome is not an indication that all such incidents will conclude without injury or loss.
