RAW Video: America West Emergency Landing - Slides Deployed

WBNS raw video from helicopter and ground crew of the emergency landing of America West Flight 2811 from Newark, New Jersey, an Airbus A320 (N628NW) on February 16, 1999. Chopper 10 pilot Terry Ault narrates the landing and ground activity when the plane stopped. The plane's front nose gear turned 90° the wrong way. The plane landed safely and the surrounding fire departments responded to the scene with squads, medics and engine companies. No one was injured in the incident but the plane closed one of Port Columbus’s runway’s for several hours until FAA investigators examined the plane.

[@robm3074]

I can add to this as I was very much involved with this incident almost 25 years ago. The reason the evacuation occurred overwing was because due to the friction from the nose wheel tires smoke was coming up through the bottom of the aircraft and into the cabin. At that point the crew had no idea where the smoke was coming from and you know with smoke comes fire. So an evacuation was initiated to err on the side of caution rather than not knowing what might be occurring next... meaning a fire. By the way, N628AW is still flying today in 2023 in South Africa with a small airline.

[@yyc_flyer8729]

Ah okay! I’m cabin crew, and was wondering why they were initiating evacuation - I presumed smoke in the cabin. Why weren’t the aft two slides at L2/R2 not used?

[@chicagobybike]

I’m just impressed how well dressed all the passengers were and that apparently everybody left their bags on board.

[@Nathan-jq4zy]

The bravery of flight crews in emergency situations never fails to amaze me. People, treat your flight attendants with respect. They are the people trained to save your life if a situation like this were to ever occur.

[@MandoMonge]

THIS!

[@genten777]

This was hardly an emergency situation.... the plane landed safely and came to a complete stop. They could have had the passengers disembark more comfortably and safely through a staircase rather than the slides, which to me seemed way more unstable and dangerous than a staircase.

[@straightpipediesel]

I agree with @genten777, this was a failure. Given somebody popped the wing slides (where there's no FA seated), I highly suspect the evacuation was started by a panicked passenger, completely unnecessary, and is downright dangerous if the engines are still running.

[@Vele1267]

Bravery..?, they should have never deployed the slides it was unnecessary and even so why these people are in a panic was caused by the flight attendants.. training for fa's is a couple months in the classroom, give me a break

[@TZach1987]

Incredible historic video! Thank you for uploading!

[@swgm29]

This could have been a passenger-induced evacuation. The crew would have been operating their specific exits i.e., the two at the front and rear. There may well have been a smell of burning and smoke in the cabin.

[@mr.sir.]

A LOT of early airbus birds had this problem. I remember in Phoenix AZ we had three in one year have the same 90° gear failure

[@JohnJohn-wt5ll]

What on earth was the reason for the evacuation? And why just through the overwing exits? Really overkill IMO. Nice job landing the airplane by the pilots.

[@tpajay]

There's a detailed explanation on FB by the lead flight attendant on this flight about this incident. The Captain briefed the crew that he wanted the front exit blocked in case of fire from the nose gear upon landing. He had the F/As move the 26 passengers to center of aircraft & prepare for the brace position. After landing, a lot of smoke was coming up to his window. He asked the control tower if the nose gear was on fire & got no immediate reply. After almost a minute & still no response, the Captain commanded an evacuation. Flight attendant said everyone was off in 30 seconds. It seemed to be a well executed plan. Better safe than sorry because history has shown that aircraft can get consumed by fire pretty quickly.

[@ervynnesevillano5190]

​@@tpajay but why didn't they use the back or AFT doors 2 if that is the case?

[@tpajay]

@@ervynnesevillano5190 Don't know for sure, but since you asked, I'll give my opinion about that. There were only 26 passengers onboard. It would probably be easier & faster (everyone was off in 30 seconds) to have them exit over the wings instead of being spread out over a larger area of the aircraft. The F/A could concentrate their assistance using the 2 over the wing exits.

[@JenniferVoight77]

Little did we know...this would happen to Jetblue 292

[@FlyBoyMT]

Wow, who knew an incident like this happened before JBU 292? And wow….people back then dressed in business casual to fly….not like the ratchet messes they call people on board planes now.

[@toolman67]

Did he say evaluate people out of there?

[@PlaneCrashanimations1]

JetBlue 292 flashbacks. Why was there glitching in the video btw?

[@davesirak]

That microwave breakup from the chopper to the ground, tracking was not locked at start

[@Keaton0801]

This happened before JetBlue 292. I can guarantee you that the NTSB was looking to ground the a320 until they could figure out what caused both incidents.

[@PlaneCrashanimations1]

@@Keaton0801 oh I never knew that but thanks for telling me info abt it

[@miketaggart3803]

Wierd how only the over wing exits were used. Surprised they didn’t use the rear exits too. I understand not using the front exits. Judging by the amount of people that came out, it wasn’t a crowded plane. I miss flying in half full planes.

[@TogVR1]

A repeat of JetBlue flight 292

[@sumeetbeniwal6365]

This is kinda like Jetblue 292

[@rcflyeryou]

It was the exact same failure.

[@sumeetbeniwal6365]

Yeah@@rcflyeryou

[@captatago1993]

JetBlue flight 292 repeats

[@prophetaarongreen]

My home Airline

[@jetpeople24]

pretty obvious this was a passenger initiated evacuation

[@tpajay]

No; it was commanded by the Captain. See my reply above for more details.

[@Garrastazuful]

Yes. No need for emergency evacuation like that

[@tpajay]

@@Garrastazuful Did you read why the evacuation was commenced? If you google it & read the entire incident about the smoke coming from the nose gear & possible fire, the captain decided on the evacuation. I saw an aircraft fire (AC DC-9S in CVG 1983), and the HP captain, with the knowledge he had, made a decision that kept everyone safe.

[@peterjszerszen]

​@@Garrastazuful Yeah and plus those slides are really hard to fold back up the correct way. Very frustrating for the mechanics.

[@ImieNazwiskoOK]

@@peterjszerszen I would rather make sure that everyone is safe than worry about mechanics having to do extra work

[@CallumDean85]

Watching Americas panic over nothing is just comedy gold

[@nikkiriegler4493]

You’re so cool I just can’t stand it!

[@NaenaeGaming]

Panic? Running from the aircraft during the evacuation is what you’re SUPPOSED TO DO! As many others have pointed, smoke was filling the cabin and it was suspected by the crew in the cabin and the cockpit that the nose wheel had caught fire, which in a worst case scenario could spread to the fuel tank and cause an explosion. The best way to stay safe in case of such an explosion is to put as much distance between you and the aircraft you’ve just escaped from as possible and as quickly as possible, which means running away from that aircraft as fast as you can.

[@peterjszerszen]

Way overdramatic. Everybody running when all that happened was essentially a glorified burn out and nothing even caught on fire. I bet those slides are hard to fold back up the right way. They should have just tugged it to the gate and let the people off there as normal. This kind of thing wouldn't be a problem if they just landed on a giant ball bearing instead. /s

[@NaenaeGaming]

Running from the aircraft is what you’re meant to do though, especially in the case of a suspected fire, which was the case here.

[@importedmusic]

Probably a woman pilot..

[@NaenaeGaming]

How does the gender of a member of the flight deck crew cause a technical malfunction?

[@importedmusic]

@@NaenaeGaming ask her for yourself

[@ImieNazwiskoOK]

From what I can find the reports refer to the captain as "he", so nope. And I would rather evacuate if there is smoke in cabin, not sure about you.

[@azikjunior3913]

Woman pilots are great, did you ever learned in kindergarten men’s needs to respect every woman.

[@importedmusic]

@@azikjunior3913 this isn't the time or place for stupid questions like yours