Jet Skids to Belly Landing in Fla.

A charter jet skidded to a stop on its belly when its landing gear failed to extend upon arrival Wednesday, causing the aircraft to spill fuel on the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, officials said.

No one was injured among the 10 passengers and two crew members aboard the British Aerospace HS-125-700 arriving from Mexico City, federal and airport officials said.

The jet scraped along the main runway at about 2:30 a.m., and the spilled fuel damaged asphalt along it, airport spokesman Greg Meyer said.

Sparks and smoke were seen after the landing, but there was never a fire, said Jeff Kennedy, southeast regional director for the National Transportation Safety Board.

Meyer said the airport wasn't told that the jet had landing gear problems before it arrived.

The plane was removed from the runway, which was scheduled to be closed while the damage was repaired. An alternate runway was being used in the meantime, airport spokesman Steve Belleme said.

The NTSB was investigating the cause.

Copyright: AP Online -- 11/2/06

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