Fed Ex 767 lands without a nose wheel

FEDEX McDONNELL DOUGLAS MD 11 N522FE (MSN 48476)

A FEDEX (Federal Express) Boeing 767 travelling from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG/LFPG) to Istanbul-Atatürk Airport (ISL/LTBA) executed a dramatic emergency landing at Istanbul Airport due to a failure in its front landing gear. Social media footage depicted the aircraft utilizing its rear landing gear before the nose touched down, scraping the front section of the fuselage along the runway.

The aircraft's front landing gear did not deploy but remained on the runway, and there were no injuries reported, according to Turkey’s transport ministry. Videos captured the moment sparks and smoke erupted as the plane's nose ground against the runway, subsequently extinguished by firefighting foam.

Originating from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the Boeing 767 communicated with Istanbul Airport's traffic control tower regarding the landing gear malfunction, successfully landing with their assistance, as stated by the ministry.

Airport rescue and firefighting teams made necessary preparations on the runway before landing, and no one was injured, the ministry also said, without giving a reason for the failure. The runway where the cargo plane landed has been temporarily closed to air traffic, but traffic on the other runways at the airport was continuing without any interruption, the airport operator IGA said.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Fed Ex 

Code: FX/FDX

Aircraft: Boeing 767-3S2
Registration: N110FE
Serial Number: 43542
Engines: 2 x GE CF6-80C2B6F

First Flew: 24th November 2014

Age: 9.6 Yrs.