100 Unhurt in S. Africa after Jet Landing Gear Collapse

Part of the landing gear of a British Airways Boeing 737-400 with 100 people on board collapsed shortly after the jet touched down at Johannesburg on Monday after a local flight, the aircraft's operators said.

All passengers and crew escaped unhurt, they said.

The aircraft -- operated by the South African airline Comair -- was on a domestic flight carrying 94 passengers and six crew from the southern city of Port Elizabeth when the incident occurred around midday (1000 GMT).

"The aircraft was on the runway for a short period performing a standard landing when the crew noticed an unusual vibration which was followed shortly by the collapse of the left landing gear," said Comair CEO Erik Venter.

Pictures circulating on social media showed the aircraft slanting to  one side and its left wing touching the ground.

Flights at OR Tambo -- Africa's busiest airport -- were delayed by up to an hour due to the temporary closure of the runway following the incident, according to the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA).