Myanmar Airlines Embraer-190 lands without front gear

Civil Aviation myanma_airways_embraer_190_at_yangon_airport.jpg
Richard Vandervord

Myanmar Airlines pilots managed to land an Embraer 190 on its nose after a landing gear failure. None of the 89 people on board were hurt.

On May 12, 2019, the aircraft registered XY-AGQ was carrying  out flight UB-103 from Yangon International Airport (RGN) to Mandalay International Airport (MDL), Myanmar with 82 passengers and 7 crew members on board when, on approach to Mandalay, the flight crew noticed they cannot extend the nose gear.

The pilots flew over the runway twice to get confirmation from the control tower that the gear failed, according to Myanmar Airlines press release. Suspecting a computer error, they proceeded to extend the landing gear manually, to no avail.

After burning off as much fuel as possible to lighten their aircraft, the flight crew landed on Mandalay’s runway 17 with their nose gear up, skillfully balancing the plane on its main gear for as long as they could. Some smoke reportedly entered the cabin. The aircraft, which received substantial damage, was evacuated via the emergency slides. No injuries were reported.

It is the second landing incident taking place in Myanmar in less than a week. On May 9, 2019, a Bombardier Dash 8 from the Bangladeshi flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines skidded off the runway at Yangon International Airport (RGN), Myanmar. At least 17 people were injured