The Volokh Conspiracy

As a licensed private pilot, I'd like to join those who are giving kudos to the crew of the aircraft. They did a remarkable and perfect job of making an emergency landing. The pilot's skill in particular was amazing; he put the plane right down on the center of the runway.

With a tricycle gear aircraft, you have no ground steering capabilities until the front wheel touches the ground. That's usually not a problem, since the front wheel touches shortly after the back two and you can steer down the runway. This pilot never had any steering capabilities yet still had the plane on the direct center of the runway 11,000 feet down.

That is an absolutely amazing feat of piloting.