Plane in distress lands safely at Brisbane Airport after landing gear malfunctions

An aircraft  has landed safely at Brisbane Airport after its landing gear malfunctioned, prompting emergency services to leap into action.

The small passenger jet was carrying 47 passengers and reported mechanical difficulties just after 5pm.

With emergency services on standby, it landed safely at the domestic terminal about 5.20pm.

A Queensland Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said the plane experienced landing gear problems.

A statement issued by Brisbane Airport on Twitter confirmed the aircraft in distress had landed safely.

Vincent Aviation later confirmed the landing gear malfunction was on a charter flight arriving in Brisbane from Roma.

CEO Murray Collings said the BAE146 aircraft's undercarriage wasn't in the correct position after take-off but there was "normal indication and normal landing" at Brisbane Airport.

"As a precaution they elected to come back at a slower speed," Mr Collings said.

"Aviation services must have contacted emergency services because we didn't actually declare an emergency."

Mr Collings said engineers would inspect the aircraft before its next flight.

A Brisbane Airport spokeswoman said the incident hadn't caused delays at the terminal and no-one was hurt.

Source: http://www.couriermail.com.au