AA B757 Has "Unknown Issue", Drops Nose Gear, And Diverts

[joeyb747]

This one left me scratching my head...

An unknown issue caused an American B757 (N199AN) enroute from LFPG (Paris, DeGaulle) to KJFK as AA flight 121 to divert to EGLL (London, Heathrow). The nose gear was deployed deliberately while the aircraft was descending, apparently to increase drag and burn off fuel. Both left and right main gear remained retracted until the aircraft was on final approach to Heathrow. The aircraft departed Heathrow for KJFK after two hours on the ground in London.

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=43aa5525&opt=0

[joeyb747]

The AvHerald article has been updated, and turns out it was a problem with flight deck instrumentation. The nose gear was lowered to increase drag and burn off fuel, as the B757 can not dump fuel.

Oddly enough, the following day, AA B757 N173AN was performing the same flight, AA121, and had a hydraulic issue and diverted to EGLL. So two AA B757s have issues, while operating the same flight segment, and divert to the same airport...

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=43ab2210&opt=0