The Guernsey-resident pilot of this aircraft escaped injury when its nosewheel collapsed on landing in Alderney yesterday, blocking the runway. (Picture by Ian Laurence, 0555778)

THE nosewheel of a private aircraft collapsed on landing at Alderney airport yesterday. The aircraft came down at 10.40am and screeched, nose down, to a halt.

The Guernsey-resident pilot was the only person aboard the American-registered plane and he was unhurt. Alderney resident Colin Ensor was waiting to board a flight to Southampton when he saw the accident.

Mr Ensor, 64, of Simon’s Place, said: ‘I heard a big screeching noise, looked up and saw the aircraft doing around 40mph. Everything looked to be going OK until the front end collapsed and nosedived into the tarmac. The alarm bell went off and everybody rushed outside to see what had happened,’ he said.