An emergency landing at Guernsey Airport yesterday lunchtime was perfectly executed, said a pilot who saw it. A lone flier in a twin-engined Beech Baron 58 reported problems locking its nosewheel.

A full emergency response was launched at 12.30pm.

After several failed attempts to rectify the fault, he landed balancing on the rear two wheels for as long as possible before bringing it to rest gently on the nose.

Private pilot John Halker said the landing was textbook.

‘He landed it absolutely perfectly and caused minimal damage to the plane.’

Mr Halker had spoken to the pilot afterwards and said he was a little shaken but otherwise unscathed. He had left the cockpit without assistance.

Airport director Colin Le Ray said the 64-year-old was a regular visitor and on this occasion had flown from a private airstrip in France.

Mr Le Ray launched a full emergency response after the pilot’s distress call, with external fire crews, paramedics and police dispatched to the scene, but they stood down soon after the landing.

Mr Le Ray said the Air Accident Investigation Branch was immediately advised and gave permission for the plane to be moved within 30 minutes.

Aircraft repairer ASG towed the plane to its hangar.

Managing director Mark Parr said the damage was minimal.

There was no significant damage to the runway and the airport returned to full serviceability at 1.53pm, causing minimal delays.