A terrified couple on board the faulty Virgin Atlantic jet which made a dramatic emergency landing at Gatwick yesterday have revealed how they sent text messages with their final goodbyes to relatives. Plumber Dean Turner and his wife Stacy sent the messages after cabin crew on board flight VS43 told them to brace as the plane came into land with only three quarters of its landing gear down after a set of wheels on the starboard wing refused to drop. The couple were on board the Boeing 747 bound for Las Vegas with their three children Khenya, 16, Ellie 13, and four-year-old Maisie.
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Dean and Stacy Turner were due to fly to Las Vegas with their daughters
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Hours into the flight from Gatwick the Virgin plane developed a fault
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The plane circled the airport and landed with one of its landing gear stuck
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Mr Turner revealed how they sent text messages with their final goodbyes
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Said they were left wondering if they were going to survive the ordeal
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Spoke of their relief after the jet landed safely at Gatwick hours later
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Hero pilot who landed the plane was revealed to be David Williams, 47
In a brief statement, he said: 'All of our pilots at @placeholder are trained to the highest standards and we go through regular testing to deal with any scenario that may arise.