Barnstable Airport Briefly Closes After Emergency Call

HYANNIS — Barnstable Municipal Airport closed briefly Thursday morning after a Cape Air pilot practicing takeoffs and landings called in an in-flight emergency, Hyannis Fire Department Acting Capt. Nathan Coughlan said.

"The pilot thought he had a landing gear issue" but was able to land the plane safely, Coughlan said.

The pilot of the Cape Air Cessna and a co-pilot were practicing "touch and go" takeoffs and landings when part of the front landing gear collapsed while touching down, Coughlan said.

"It caused the front end (of the plane) to kind of dip," and both propellers hit the ground, he said.

The pilot took off again and called an in-flight emergency shortly after 10 a.m. after noticing the plane vibrating, Coughlan said.

Both runways were closed until the pilot landed safely, he said.

Coughlan said one runway remained closed as investigators inspected the damage to the propellers and looked into the cause of the incident.

The airport was back to full operation by Thursday night, according to airport operations personnel.

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