HISTORY 1 year since Virgin Atlantic Flight #VS43 landing scare

1 year ago today, Virgin Atlantic Flight #VS43 (G-VROM) with 447 passengers & 18 crew members was a scheduled passenger flight from London Gatwick to Las Vegas. The aircraft took off at 11:43GMT, shortly after the pilots discovered a problem with part of its main landing gear.

The Boeing 747 circled over southern England for several hours dumping fuel before making a safe landing back at Gatwick shortly before 16:00GMT.

Route took by Virgin Atlantic Flight VS43.

Photos of the 747 circling over East Sussex to burn off fuel.

Virgin Atlantic Flight VS43 emergency landing before & after (Cabin).

Virgin Atlantic Flight VS43 emergency landing with Radio.

 Photos of the 747 emergency landing at London Gatwick Airport. 

It was later found out that a maintenance personnel installed the main landing gear actuator upside-down before the aircraft suffered an undercarriage jam while returning to London Gatwick. The maintenance team did not use a sling to hold the 85kg actuator in place as it was fitted. Two technicians instead manually supported it - holding the heavy component for over 30 mins, owing to delays in locating an attachment pin. 

Incorrect installation resulted in forces that distorted a hydraulic port during retraction, causing the fluid leak and subsequent gear jam. 

Sources: Information BBC, Flightglobal
               Photos BBC, Telegraph
               Videos Sarah-Jane p, LondonAircraft

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Article by: @AirCrashMayday