(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

A level 2 emergency was declared on El Al flight 5425 from Tel Aviv to Amsterdam about 30 minutes after taking off on Thursday morning. The pilot reported a problem with one of the wheels. The flight, a Boeing 737, had 190 persons on board.

In line with the level 2 emergency, emergency personnel began responding as the airport prepared for the landing. The plane lowered its altitude from 26000 to 5000 feet and began dumping fuel. A bit later, the level 2 emergency was canceled, and an ‘alert’ status was declared instead, as the plane announced it was heading home.

A helicopter was dispatched to get a look at the flight as it made its way home, to get a first-hand look at the landing gear from outside, B’chasdei Hashem, landing at Ben-Gurion without incident.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)