Skippers Aviation flight forced to make emergency landing at Geraldton Airport after mechanical failure

A FIFO plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Geraldton Airport on Tuesday morning after a serious mechanical failure. The mid-air scare took place on a Skippers Aviation flight with 11 FIFO passengers on board and it’s understood the pilot was forced to land the aircraft — a Fairchild Swearingen Metro 23 — without flaps or brakes. The flight took off from Ginbata Airport about 8.30am, transporting FIFO workers from Roy Hill mine site. It’s understood the plane suffered a full hydraulic failure in the skies over Geraldton, with the alarm raised just after 10am on Tuesday. Flight PY4012 was circling off the coast of Geraldton for more than an hour. Passengers reported hearing clunking noises on board before the plane landed smoothly just after 11am, with everyone on board safe. Emergency services were sent to Geraldton Airport to be on standby as a precaution. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is yet to determine if it will launch a full investigation into the failure. Skippers Aviation declined to comment on the incident.