Was Heading To Australian Int'l Airshow When Crew Reported Gear Problems

The US Air Force is investigating why the crew of a B-1B Lancer bomber had to divert from their planned destination over Australia, and instead make an emergency landing at the Melbourne Airport.

Local media reports state the bomber was on its way to Avalon to participate in the Australian International Airshow, when the crew reported problems with the aircraft's landing gear.

The plane landed uneventfully on Melbourne's 11,998-foot runway 16/34 -- 2,000 feet longer than the strip at Avalon -- around 9:30 pm AEDT Saturday evening, and remained on the runway for about an hour as emergency crews sized up the situation before it moved to the ramp under its own power.

Commercial flights from Melbourne were reported on normal schedule Sunday morning. Airport spokeswoman Emma Stenhouse told The Age US authorities were waiting for the Lancer's special towbar to be delivered from Avalon, so the bomber could be moved to a secure holding area for crews to take a closer look at the undercarriage.

So far, no possible cause of the incident has been reported.

FMI: www.af.mil, www.airshow.net.au/avalon2009/index.html