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Landing Gear Fails Mid-Flight, Plane Skids Off Runway At NJ Airport

A plane carrying two people skidded off the runway at the Essex County Airport on Wednesday evening, Nov. 6 after its landing gear failed, Fairfield police said.

The 2011 Baron Beechcraft G58 at the scene.

The 2011 Baron Beechcraft G58 at the scene.

Photo Credit: Fairfield PD

The flight began at Essex County Airport but was cut short about six miles out when the pilot noticed electrical issues, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna said. 

The pilot, a 58-year-old Weehawken man, immediately turned back toward the airport, but due to the electrical malfunction, the landing gear failed to deploy, causing the plane to skid off the runway upon landing around 5:35 p.m., according to Manna.

The 2011 Baron Beechcraft G58, a dual-propeller plane, veered off the runway and came to rest on the grass. Fairfield police and the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene, Chief Manna said.

The pilot and his 57-year-old passenger from Bayonne were uninjured, police said.

As of Wednesday night, the airport remains closed as authorities continue their investigation, Manna said. Further details will be provided as the investigation unfolds.

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