Tobago Express officials told Caribbean Net News that all Tobago Express flights were cancelled in keeping with international aviation standards and operating procedures, adding that a full investigation will be carried out to determine what caused the landing gear to fail.
The service will only resume operations after the fleet of five Dash 8 300 aircraft are fully examined and declared fit for flying.
An official of the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) told Caribbean Net News that the main runway was closed due to the incident and gave an idea of what happened.
The three-member crew and 46 passengers were just about to land at Crown Point Airport on Tobago following the 28-minute flight from Trinidad when the pilots detected the problem.
After a number of mechanical attempts to lower the nose gear were unsuccessful, the crew also tried to deploy it manually using a lever in the cockpit but that too failed to work.
The pilot flew around Crown Point Airport several times as efforts were made to open the landing gear and it was only when all efforts failed the decision was made to head back to Piarco International.
Upon arriving at Piarco, the pilot made four more circles around the airport as efforts were again made to deploy the landing gear. The crew was forced to resort to an emergency landing.
The normally busy airport became busier as having been alerted, some 300 police officers descended on the airport and quickly cordoned-off sections of the runway, while traffic police diverted motorists as medical emergency personnel took their positions in a bid to ensure that any disaster would be averted.
The public address system in the Terminal Building called on everyone to evacuate the facility but as everyone was heading out to the car park there was a "funny grating sound" as the aircraft landed, skidding some 500 feet before stopping.
According to officials, there was one child on board. The other passengers were taken to the domestic departure lounge where they were treated for shock and anxiety by doctors and nurses.
Passengers who admitted that there were tense moments, commended the crew, Captain Kawall, First Officer Sadeek and flight attendant Marisha Harripersad saying the manner in which they carried out their duties during the ordeal was very professional.
