FlySafair suffers technical problem, lands with urgency at George Airport
The pilots also reportedly declared a PAN over the radio, signalling an urgent situation and giving the flight priority.
On Saturday, a FlySafair Boeing 737-800 encountered a technical issue while approaching George Airport. Reports suggest that flight FA222 experienced a partial flap failure during its approach. The aircraft landed safely, and was subsequently taken out of service for inspection and maintenance. FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gordon confirmed the incident, stating that the crew followed proper operating procedures and the plane landed without incident.
Fly Africa, a private aviation Facebook group, reported that the crew entered a holding pattern, worked through relevant checklists and procedures, and conducted a partial-flap landing. The pilots also declared a PAN over the radio, indicating an urgent and potentially dangerous situation. PAN is a level below a MAYDAY distress call, signaling grave and imminent danger.
Flaps are movable surfaces on the trailing edges of an aircraft's wings that are extended during take-off and landing. They alter the shape of the wing to create additional lift and drag, allowing the aircraft to fly more slowly during an approach and descend without gaining excessive speed. Reduced flap deployment typically means the aircraft must approach and land at a higher speed.
Emergency rescue vehicles were reportedly waiting for the Boeing when it landed as a precaution. The crew's handling of the situation has been praised by members of the aviation community, with one individual commenting that landing at a higher speed than normal in George required skill.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
