SkyWest Passenger Jet Loses Steering During Landing at John Wayne Airport

Emergency fire crews and a crash unit responded to John Wayne Airport Thursday afternoon when a SkyWest passenger jet lost steering during landing.

The incident happened at about 4 p.m. Thursday when the pilots of a 76-person passenger plane out of Salt Lake City realized upon landing that they couldn’t steer the plane, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz. No one was injured in the incident.

“After landing, the pilots realized that they had lost steering in their nose gear,” said Kurtz.

“The plane was towed off the runway and the passengers were unloaded without incident,” said Kurtz.

According to Layne Watson, spokesman for SkyWest, the incident was minor mechanical issue that was quickly fixed without incident, and the plane was back in service by early evening.

“Emergency vehicles were dispatched out of an abundance of caution,” Watson said.

"After landing safely, SkyWest flight 4455, operating as Delta Connection from Salt Lake City to Orange County, California lost nose wheel steering power and was towed to the gate, where all 76 passengers deplaned normally," added Watson.

Photo: courtesy of Sky West