What Happened To The JetBlue Plane That Landed With Jammed Nose Gear 19 Years Ago?

JetBlue Airways
flight 292 made a remarkable emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) on September 21, 2005. Soon after takeoff from Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California, the Airbus A320
, registered as N536JB (often referred to as “Canyon Blue”), experienced a serious problem with its nose landing gear. As passengers on the plane watched live TV coverage of their own suffering, a terrifying chain of events unfolded that caught the attention of millions.

The incredible event is still regarded as a standard for pilot skill, aviation safety, and crisis management nineteen years later.

• Date & Time:
  • Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2005
  • Time: 17:18 Local Time (LT)
• Aircraft details:
  • Type: Airbus A320-232
  • Registration: N536JB
  • Aircraft Age (at time of incident): 2.7 years
  • First Flight Date: April 10, 2002

The mechanics behind nose gear failure

The emergency was caused by a malfunction of the nose gear’s hydraulic system. Shortly after takeoff from Bob Hope Airport in burbank
at 15:17 local time, the Pilots
of Flight 292 were unable to retract the nose landing gear
. According to Aviation Safety Network, the flight crew received error messages on the aircraft’s Electric Centralized Aircraft Monitoring (ECAM) system, including a fault in the nose landing gear (NLG) shock absorber and a nose wheel steering failure (WHEEL N/W STRG FAULT).

When air traffic controllers visually inspected the problem during a low-altitude pass over Long Beach Airport, they discovered that the nose wheels were locked at a 90-degree angle, perpendicular to the body of the aircraft. Due to this misalignment, there was a considerable risk of structural damage or fire upon landing as the plane’s nose gear could not be operated safely.

Unlike some aircraft, the Airbus A320, which has a max fuel capacity of 27,200 liters, does not have the capability to jettison fuel. As a result, the pilots flew in a figure-eight pattern for over three hours to burn off the majority of the jet’s fuel reserves, reducing the likelihood of a post-landing fire and ensuring the aircraft touched down at a safer weight. The decision to divert to Los Angeles, instead of attempting to land at Long Beach or returning to Burbank, was made to utilize Los Angeles Airport’s longer runways and advanced emergency response capabilities.

Inside the cabin: Passengers witness their own drama

JetBlue’s in-flight entertainment system provided live television for passengers, allowing them to watch news reports covering their own flight’s perilous situation. (Remember: There was no onboard WiFi at the time. JetBlue announced in 2013 that it would work with Viaset to offer fleetwide WiFi.)

New Yorker Zachary Mastoon told NBC News that it was “unreal” to see his plane’s destiny being discussed live on television as it was in midair. He claimed that at one time, he attempted to call his family but his cell phone call was unsuccessful.

The 27-year-old artist stated, “I wanted to call my dad to tell him I’m alive so far.“

While some found the broadcast surreal, others described it as adding to their anxiety. NBC News reported that Lisa Schiff, a passenger on board, sent a text message to her family, saying, “I love you. Don’t worry about me. If something happens, know that I am watching you and Daddy and (her brother) David.“

Some passengers attempted to call loved ones, but cell signals were inconsistent. The emotional strain was palpable, as Diane Hamilton, another passenger, said to NBC News, “At the end it was the worst because you didn’t know if it was going to work, if we would catch fire. It was very scary.“

Despite the tension, the Cabin Crew
maintained a sense of calm, guiding passengers through preparations for an emergency landing. Some passengers continued to doze or watch television channels that did not transmit the news, making it difficult for them to understand the gravity of the issue, according to 25-year-old Christiana Lund of Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood, who spoke to The New York Times.

However, she added that shortly, crew members were telling passengers how to position themselves for an emergency landing. In an apparent attempt to keep the nose off the ground as long as possible, they ordered a number of passengers to relocate to the back of the aircraft. The crew instructed everyone to assume the brace position as the aircraft approached the runway, repeatedly shouting, “Brace! Brace! Brace!” as the moment of contact drew near.

The landing

Aviation for Aviators reported that prior to the landing, fire engines and emergency personnel were waiting on the LAX ramp. Despite the availability of foam trucks, none were used. Because it is difficult to determine exactly where a runway should be foamed, pre-foaming may also reduce the effectiveness of the aircraft’s brakes, which could cause it to slide off the runway, and because it would deplete firefighting foam supplies that might later be needed to respond to a fire, the US Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) no longer recommends pre-foaming runways.

At approximately 18:20 local time, Captain Scott Burke and his crew executed the emergency landing on Los Angeles International Airport’s Runway 25L. Displaying extraordinary skill, the pilots touched down with the plane’s main landing gear first, keeping the nose gear off the ground for as long as possible. As the nose finally lowered, the misaligned wheels skidded across the tarmac, emitting sparks and small flames.

Despite the dramatic visuals, the situation remained under control. The nose gear tires deflated as expected, preventing further damage, and the plane came to a halt roughly 1,000 feet from the runway’s end. Emergency response teams were already stationed nearby, but no fire broke out, and all 146 occupants—140 passengers and six crew members—were evacuated safely.

No one was hurt.

For those on board, the event left an indelible mark. Passengers praised the calm demeanor of the crew and emergency responders while reflecting on the surreal nature of the experience. The public response was similarly captivated, with news outlets covering the incident extensively. The image of sparks trailing behind the A320 as it landed remains a defining visual of the event. Captain Scott Burke, hailed as a hero for his calm and decisive actions, continued his aviation career, earning accolades from both industry peers and passengers.

However, Burke chose to stay low-key, according to the East Bay Times, and refused to talk to reporters about his experience. “He joked that he was sorry he put the plane down six inches off the center line,” then-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told reporters after talking to Burke. The East Bay Times reported that it was the mayor who revealed his name to the news media.

How investigators uncovered the cause of emergency landing

The FAA
and National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB
) launched immediate investigations into the emergency landing of JetBlue Airways Flight 292. The NTSB identified the root cause as the fatigue failure of two anti-rotation lugs in the nose gear assembly, which caused the nose wheels to lock at a 90-degree angle during retraction. Contributing factors included a design flaw in the Brake Steering Control Unit (BSCU) system, which failed to realign the wheels due to a loss of hydraulic feedback during the landing gear’s sequencing.

Investigators noted that repeated pre-landing steering system tests had caused the fatigue failure of the anti-rotation lugs. The BSCU’s inability to re-center the wheels, coupled with the absence of approved procedures for resetting the system mid-flight, left the crew unable to resolve the issue and forced the emergency landing.

In response, Airbus
issued an Operations Engineering Bulletin (OEB) in October 2005. This provided a procedure for the flight crew to reset the BSCU in flight, the NTSB report noted. The incident has since prompted enhancements in operational guidance, pilot training, and engineering design to prevent future occurrences. This case highlights the importance of ongoing advancements in aviation safety and the critical role of robust training and technical improvements in handling in-flight emergencies.

Lessons from JetBlue 292’s emergency:

JetBlue flight 292’s successful conclusion demonstrated the value of thorough pilot training, clear communication, and sturdy aircraft design. Important lessons learned include:

1. Pilot expertise and decision-making: Captain Burke showed remarkable judgment under duress when he chose to burn fuel, divert to Los Angeles, and make a controlled landing. His actions likely prevented significant structural damage to the plane and potential injuries to passengers and crew on board.
2. Emergency procedures: The incident validated the effectiveness of Airbus’ emergency protocols and highlighted the value of thorough pre-flight safety checks.
3. Passenger communication: The professionalism of the flight attendants soothed passengers throughout a terrifying encounter, even if JetBlue’s live TV broadcasts added another dimension to the accident.
4. Aircraft design improvements: The malfunction prompted Airbus to address vulnerabilities in the A320’s nose gear system, showcasing how incidents can drive advancements in aviation safety.

The Airbus A320 “Canyon Blue” involved in flight 292 is still in use by JetBlue 19 years after the event. The aircraft was put back into operation after repairs and safety checks, and it hasn’t had any major problems since the emergency landing. Its continued existence is evidence of how resilient contemporary aircraft design is.

JetBlue, now one of the largest low-cost carriers in the US, maintains its commitment to safety and innovation. The airline has used the flight 292 incident as a case study in its training programs, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and technical expertise during emergencies.