A Cape Air Cessna 402C was involved in a runway mishap on 27 January at Chicago O’Hare International airport after the aircraft’s nose landing gear failed.
The incident did not cause injuries but forced the closure of Chicago’s Runway 09C/27C, according to a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM).
A Cape Air plane had a rough landing at Chicago O’Hare airport Friday morning and was towed away. It came from Manistee, Michigan. https://t.co/Uz5hAkyErH
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) January 27, 2023
“The nose gear of Cape Air Flight 1, a twin-engine Cessna 402, collapsed while landing on Runway 27R at Chicago O’Hare International Airport,” the FAA says. “Six people were on board.”
The aircraft had been operating a flight from Manistee in Michigan to Chicago, says Cape Air, a commuter airline based in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
“There were no indications of abnormality with the gear prior to landing,” Cape Air adds. “There were no injuries and all passengers and crew have been safely transported to the terminal.”
Few details about the event are known, but images published by local media outlets show the aircraft (registration N466CA) with its nose resting on the ground.
Cessna manufactured the 402C in 1981, according to Cirium fleets data.
Cape Air’s fleet includes 70 ageing 10-seat 402Cs, which it operates on short hops from several US cities, with Boston Logan International airport being home to its largest operation.
The airline has started replacing its 402Cs with new Tecnam P2012 Travellers, having 30 of those now in service, and has committed to acquire Eviation’s in-development all-electric passenger aircraft Alice, according to Cirium.
Manistee is 156nm (289km) northeast of Chicago, across Lake Michigan. After taking off from Manistee on 27 January, the aircraft flew a direct route southwest toward Chicago and made a straight-in approach from the east, according to FlightRadar24.com.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Notice to Air Missions says Chicago’s runway will remain closed until noon local time.
The FAA says it is investing the incident.