UAL 747 Runs off Melbourne Taxiway.

Steering problem blamed for Boeing bog

Faulty steering caused a United Airlines 747 carrying 162 people to veer off a taxiway after landing at Melbourne Airport.

The aircraft’s main nose wheel was believed to be deeply bogged in a grassed area and Melbourne Airport crew worked with United Airlines engineers to move the plane back onto the taxiway.

Heavy lifting equipment was being trucked in from Sydney overnight to move the plane.

A United Airlines spokeswoman said the aircraft was taxiing as normal en route to the international terminal at a speed of 10-12 knots when the steering failed to respond.

The spokeswoman said cockpit crew immediately brought the aircraft to a standstill but it moved off to the left of the taxiway as it was stopping.

None of the 150 passengers and 12 crew on board the United Airlines flight 815 from Los Angeles was injured when the plane careered off track.

However, passengers faced a 45 minute delay as they awaited a shuttle bus to transport them from the stranded aircraft to the international terminal.

Passengers told Channel Nine the plane came to an abrupt and crooked stop.

“The plane veered one way quickly, then it veered the other way quickly and it skidded and we saw a lot of dirt come up,” one passenger said.

“Then boom, the plane was on an angle.”

Another passenger said he felt the plane lurch.

“They said something happened and the front wheel locked and they couldn’t get it around,” he said.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into the incident.

An ATSB spokesman said investigators would talk to the pilot, air traffic controller and crew on board at the time of the incident.

A spokeswoman for Melbourne Airport said the incident had not affected the landing of other aircraft at the airport.

With the 747 expected to be out of action for American-bound flights overnight, United Airlines were expected to make alternative arrangements for passengers travelling to the US west coast.

A spokeswoman said all required safety inspections would be carried out before the aircraft returned to service.

©AAP 2003