Incident Overview
On November 1, 2011, LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16, a scheduled passenger service from Newark, United States, to Warsaw, Poland, experienced a hydraulic system failure shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, a Boeing 767, subsequently made a gear-up emergency landing at Warsaw Chopin Airport. All 231 people on board—including passengers and crew—survived the incident without serious injuries.
Sequence of Events
According to the investigation, a leak developed in one of the aircraft's hydraulic systems shortly after departure from Newark. This leak resulted in the complete loss of hydraulic fluid that supplied the primary landing gear extension system. Consequently, the landing gear could not be extended normally on approach to Warsaw.
The flight crew executed a controlled gear-up landing, touching down on the runway with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft slid along the runway on its engine nacelles and lower fuselage before coming to a stop. Emergency services responded promptly, and evacuation was carried out without significant injury.
Aircraft and Occupants
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 767, operating as LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16. It carried 231 persons: passengers and crew. No serious injuries were reported among those on board. The aircraft sustained substantial damage due to the landing without gear.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that a hydraulic fluid leak occurred in one of the aircraft's hydraulic systems shortly after takeoff, leading to the loss of all hydraulic fluid for the primary landing gear system. This prevented normal gear extension.