Private plane’s problems delay JWA commercial flights

Bryce Alderton

Commercial flight activity was delayed for nearly an hour Saturday at

John Wayne Airport so crews could clean up debris after a six-seat

airplane’s landing gear faltered causing it to crash into signage

alongside the runway, airport officials said.

The exact number of departures and arrivals delayed was unknown, but

some flights did have to circle, said Ann McCarley, airport spokeswoman.

“An American [Airlines] jet, a Southwest [Airlines] jet and a

corporate jet may have been diverted,” she said.

Arrivals and departures were delayed between 6:34 p.m. and 7:21 p.m.

after the six-seat Beech Baron’s landing gear faltered when it tried to

land at 6:30 p.m., she said.

The aircraft was carrying two passengers. There were no injuries and

the plane suffered damage to its landing gear, McCarley said.

Airport firefighters and rescue crews moved the plane with a crane,

McCarley said.

“When the pilot landed, the landing gear went crooked and the plane

skidded and hit signage to the right, then turned to the left and hit

more runway signage,” McCarley said. “The plane is not believed to be

based out of John Wayne Airport.”