What Happens When the Landing Gear Won't Come Down?

What was reported on 25 October 2026

An airliner arriving from the Caribbean declared an emergency as it approached a major airport in the southern United States, a US newspaper reported, after the crew reported a problem with the landing gear. In a statement, the airline said the emergency was declared because of a mechanical indication, and that the aircraft landed safely, taxied normally and passengers left at the gate. It said 83 passengers and six crew were on board. The event is listed on our aviation events page.

No cause had been given by 26 October, and this page does not guess at one. It explains what pilots and aircraft have for this kind of problem.

Three green lights

The FAA's maintenance handbook explains that the gear position indicators sit next to the gear lever, usually with one light for each gear leg. A green light means that leg is down and locked; three green lights mean it is safe to land. Some aircraft show separate lights or a striped "barber pole" while a leg is in transit, or a "gear disagree" message when the gear is not where the lever says.

US certification rules for large aeroplanes (14 CFR 25.729) require the indicator to show the gear position without ambiguity, with switches placed so that they cannot show "down and locked" when the gear is not fully extended. If a landing is attempted with the gear not locked down, a warning must sound early enough for the crew to lower it or go around.

A second way down

The same rule requires an emergency way of lowering the gear if the normal system fails, or if any single source of hydraulic or electrical power is lost. On many aircraft, the handbook says, a handle releases the locks that hold the gear up, so it falls into place under its own weight, helped by the air flowing past; others use a separate source such as compressed gas.

If a leg still will not lock

The FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook, written for pilots of aeroplanes in general, says that once the gear will not respond to the normal or the alternate method, the pilot should plan for a landing without it: choose an airport with rescue and fire-fighting services and not hesitate to ask for them to stand by. It suggests using up extra fuel to land lighter and slower, with less risk of fire, and, if only one main leg is up, holding that wing off the ground for as long as possible.

Airliner crews follow their own manuals, but the idea is the same. Taking time is part of it: circling before landing gives the crew time to work through the checklist.

In AeroFox

AeroFox's trainers have fixed landing gear, but the airliner lessons do not. In the autopilot ILS approach you lower the gear once the glideslope is captured. If it is not down by 1,000 ft above the runway, the approach counts as unstable and the lesson ends, which is the go-around lesson's cue: when an approach is not right, climb away and try again.

If you are a passenger

Circling for a while, an announcement about a precautionary landing and fire engines beside the runway are all part of the plan. The crew may ask you to take up the brace position for landing: listen and follow their instructions. If you are asked to evacuate, leave your bags behind.