A Luxair flight from Luxembourg to Nice had to make an emergency landing on Thursday afternoon at Nice-Côte d’Azur airport. A technical incident with the landing gear led to significant mobilization of rescue teams and a temporary suspension of air traffic. The passengers and crew members are unharmed. A technical investigation must now determine the exact cause of the event.
Flight LG8255, operated with a Dash 8-400, left Findel airport at 1:17 PM. The arrival was scheduled for around 2:40 PM in Nice. However, the trajectory quickly diverged from the initial plan. Data from FlightRadar 24 showed a series of rotations off the coast, over the Mediterranean. This prolonged phase allowed rescue teams to prepare for a potential emergency landing.
The aircraft, registered LX-LQA, finally touched down at 3:57 PM. The deviation from the scheduled time reached nearly one hour and twenty minutes. The airline confirmed in a statement that “the aircraft landed safely and, as a precaution, came to a stop on the runway,” as evidenced by images captured by someone on the tarmac. The message also specifies that “the appropriate procedures were applied in accordance with safety regulations.”
Initial information gathered on site reports a malfunction of the right landing gear. Local sources also mention difficulty deploying the left gear during the approach. Images shared by the Aviation Addict account suggest an additional issue with an engine. These elements will need to be confirmed by the investigation announced by the airline.
The situation led airport authorities to activate an enhanced security system. Several specialized units were deployed, including fire teams, emergency medical services, and a command group.
Traffic was halted preventively. Departures and arrivals were suspended during the operation. Scheduled flights accumulated delays, and the civil aviation authority indicated that the situation should gradually normalize in the evening.
Disembarkation of passengers and post-incident support
Onboard flight LG8255 were 74 people. Luxair confirmed that “the 74 passengers were disembarked and transported by bus to the terminal, where they are being cared for. All passengers and crew members are safe and sound, and psychological support is available if necessary.” The rescue teams assisted with the evacuation and ensured safety checks around the aircraft immobilized on the runway.
The airline announced the opening of a technical investigation. It aims to identify the exact cause of the landing gear malfunction and verify all parameters related to the approach and final maneuver. Luxair specifies that this approach is part of the standard procedures provided by aviation regulations.
The incident highlighted the importance of safety protocols in place at airports and within airlines. The coordination between rescue services, airport teams, and the crew enabled a controlled management of the situation. The landing process, despite the technical difficulties, resulted in no human damage.
The return to normal of traffic is now underway and will continue progressively after the end of the operation. The passengers on flight LG8255 were taken care of in the terminal, where they were provided with information on administrative and logistical follow-ups. The airline ensured immediate needs are met.
This event marks another disrupted day for Nice airport following the incident involving two planes last September, but without bodily harm. The conclusions of the technical investigation will be awaited to understand the exact reasons for the malfunction and determine any measures to be taken.
