Terror on board BA flight as captain announces 'the landing gear has broken off' then crash lands the jet at Johannesburg airport

A jet flying under British Airways colours has dramatically crash landed in South Africa after part of its landing gear broke off.

Picture Credit: Warren Man

One passenger reported seeing sparks flying as the left wing of the Boeing 737 'scraped across the runway' as it came into land at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg earlier today.

Fire crews rushed to the aircraft, run by the franchise Comair, after it touched down and the 94 people on board used an emergency staircase as they were led to safety.

A Comair spokesman said this morning that nobody had been hurt in the incident.

'Comair confirms that flight BA6234 a 10:35 departure from Port Elizabeth, with 6 Crew and 94 Passengers on board, was involved in an incident on landing at OR Tambo International Airport today.

'We can confirm that all passengers and crew safely disembarked with no reported injuries. Passengers have been taken to the terminal building where staff are currently on hand assisting them.

'The incident involving a Boeing 737-400, registration ZS-OAA experienced a failure with the landing gear shortly after touching down. 

Picture Credit: Warren Man

According to DailyMail UK, 'the aircraft was on the runway for a short period performing standard landing procedures when the crew noticed an unusual vibration which was followed shortly by the collapse of the left landing gear. 

'ACSA emergency services were dispatched and responded to the scene immediately and assisted passengers and crew to safely disembark.'

The spokesman said that the plabe was currently on runway 03R and that 'Comair and the relevant authorities are onsite making the necessary arrangements for the removal of the aircraft.'

'For reasons of safety and security, the runway has been closed. Comair and the relevant authorities will be conducting the necessary investigation over the coming days and weeks.' 

A spokesman for Airports Company SA, which operates nine of South Africa's airports, told News24 that passengers were facing short delays.

He said: 'OR Tambo is currently using an alternative runway to ensure flights are able to leave the airport. For safety and security reasons we will have to close that runway [where the aircraft is