Investigators have confirmed that a malfunctioning sensor was responsible for the emergency landing of a Luxair Q400 aircraft in Nice on Thursday. According to the national airline, inspectors and mechanics despatched to the site determined that the issue was entirely due to the sensor providing erratic readings.
“There was no mechanical fault, and at no time was there any real danger to the passengers or crew,” Luxair stated to RTL. Although the sensor fault has been identified, the airline is still preparing a full technical report on the incident. The aircraft has since been cleared to return to Luxembourg.
Video footage of the landing, which has appeared online, illustrates the procedure followed by the flight crew. The pilot touched down initially on the aircraft’s left side before pivoting slowly onto the right-hand gear – the side flagged by the faulty sensor as potentially unlocked. As a standard precaution, the right engine had been shut down prior to landing, leaving its propeller stationary. Luxair CEO Gilles Feith explained in an interview on RTL Télé Thursday evening that this procedure also involves transferring fuel from that side to prevent potential fire in the event of a gear collapse.
