WESTERN CAPE. – A FlySafair Boeing 737 landed safely at George Airport after a technical problem was indicated. The crew suspended the normal landing procedure, completed the necessary checklists and declared a "PAN" to air traffic control.
Kirby Gordon of FlySafair confirmed to Nuusflits that flight FA222 from Johannesburg to George experienced the problem, after which the aircraft was given landing priority and airport emergency services were placed on standby as a precaution. The aircraft landed normally and all passengers disembarked without incident. FlySafair says the aircraft was subsequently moved to Cape Town for inspection and maintenance and will only return to commercial service once the necessary technical work has been completed and it has been approved for operation.
According to George Aviation, a FlySafair Boeing 737-8EH with registration number ZS-FGD landed at George on 19 September with what appeared to be a problem with the flaps not extending. The landing gear was down, while the flaps did not appear to be extended according to photographs. George Aviation reported that a "PAN" was declared and that another incoming aircraft was held in a holding pattern above Mossel Bay to give ZS-FGD landing priority.
Various rescue units were placed on standby, including one at Alpha 2 which followed the aircraft alongside the runway after landing. The aircraft landed safely and shortly afterwards taxied under its own power.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
