Plane makes emergency wheels-up landing in Australia after hovering over airport for hours

Two passengers and a pilot escaped unhurt from a small plane after it was forced to land without landing gear following a mechanical failure at Newcastle Airport, New South Wales in Australia.

The plane, a Beach B-200 Super King, circled the airport for hours burning fuel before making a “classic” emergency landing, CNN affiliate Nine News reported.

The footage shows the plane approaching the runway without its landing gear activated before landing and skidding along the tarmac until coming to a stop.

Emergency response vehicles were on standby and could be seen in the video racing to the plane’s aid.

Superintendent Wayne Humphrey of the New South Wales Police praised the 53-year-old pilot for making a successful landing, saying no one was injured and the passengers were even able to drive home, Nine reported News.

“It was a great result, really well done by the driver,” Humphrey was quoted as saying. “I could hear him on the air, he seemed very calm to me.”

The plane had been flying over the airport for several hours to burn fuel.

Those guiding the plane into the control room applauded when they saw it had landed safely, Humphrey said.

The plane was scheduled to make a 26-minute flight from Newcastle to Port Macquarie, about 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of Sydney.

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