A pilot managed to land a passenger jet in Belfast despite his prosthetic arm falling off moments before touchdown, a report from the Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) said on Thursday, according to dpa. No-one was injured in the incident, which involved a Flybe flight from Birmingham to Belfast City Airport with 47 passengers onboard on February 12. The 46-year-old pilot had checked that his prosthetic lower arm was securely attached to the yoke clamp he used to fly the Dash 8 aircraft shortly before landing. But the arm became detached, meaning the pilot was no longer in control of the yoke. He considered alerting the co-pilot but because conditions were "challenging" and there was not much time available, "The commander concluded that his best course of action was to move his right hand from the power levers onto the yoke to regain control," the report said. "He did this, but with power still applied, and possibly a gust affecting the aircraft, a normal touchdown was followed by a bounce, from which the aircraft landed heavily," said the report.
