In what were a few tense minutes for a pilot, airport officials, and local emergency workers, a potential disaster was averted without incident on Friday, August 2, 2024.
The situation began when a single-engine plane contacted the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport around 3:30pm, reporting an issue with its landing gear. The plane, a six-passenger aircraft believed to be based out of Melbourne, Florida, had only the pilot on board. The pilot reported that the nose gear was not coming down.
Despite the pilot's concern, the nose gear was actually down, but the instrumentation inside the plane either showed it was not down or was not locked.
Bulloch County 911 dispatched the Statesboro and Bulloch County Fire Departments to the airport. Emergency responders, including firefighters, sheriff's deputies, and paramedics, prepared for the emergency landing and staged on the runway.
The plane circled the airport while emergency assistance was organized. Once everything was in place, the pilot made the landing, and the nose gear held firm, allowing the plane to land safely.
Bulloch County Airport officials expressed their gratitude to the emergency responders for their quick and professional assistance in resolving the situation without incident.