A new Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter jet has crash-landed with a faulty front wheel - just weeks before the plane is scheduled to come into service, the Ministry of Defence in London said Wednesday, according to DPA. It said the 50 million-pound (86 million dollars) Typhoon fighter suffered front-end damage when it dipped after landing at an RAF base in Lincolnshire, eastern England, on Monday. The pilot and co-pilot escaped unhurt when the jet's front wheel failed to go down properly. They managed to touch down on the plane's rear wheels and cut the aircraft's speed before easing the nose on to the runway. Officials say it is the first such accident for the Eurofighter, which has been dogged by controversy over costs and teething troubles. Britain has ordered 144 Typhoons, with the first due to come into service with the launch of a new squadron at the beginning of April.
