Flybe crash landing: Passenger plane makes emergency landing at Belfast airport after nose gear fails to deploy

The pilot of a Flybe passenger plane that crash landed with no nose gear after taking off from Belfast airport has been praised for avoiding a fire or serious casualties.

The flight to Inverness carrying 52 passengers and one infant set off shortly after 11am, but the pilot quickly noticed a problem with the nose gear.

The aircraft spent two hours circling 3,800ft above the Irish Sea to burn off fuel before making the emergency landing.

One person on board was taken to hospital for a minor hand injury following the crash, the airline said in a statement, adding that there were no further reports of any other passengers or crew injuries

Firefighters were on standby at Belfast International Airport but said “no action” was required.

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch sent a team to the airport to investigate.