Pilot's artificial arm comes off during landing

The pilot for a British budget airline briefly lost control of a flight after his artificial arm came loose during landing, an air accident report said yesterday.

The Flybe plane carrying 47 passengers was coming in to land at Belfast City Airport from Birmingham on Feb 12 when the pilot's prosthetic forearm became detached from a special clamp fitted to the plane's yoke.

This caused the plane to land with a "bounce", but no one was injured.

Flybe said it was proud to be an equal opportunity employer, AFP reported.

"The senior captain referred to in this report is one of Flybe's most experienced and trusted pilots," said Captain Ian Baston, the firm's director of flight operations and safety.

"The airline confirms that at no time was the safety of its passengers or crew compromised in any way, nor was the aircraft damaged."

The 46-year-old pilot had checked that his prosthetic arm was securely attached to the clamp shortly before landing.

This article was published on Aug 15 in The New Paper.

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