Float plane lands ''wheels up'' at Juneau Airport

JUNEAU (AP) -- A floatplane skidded to a stop on the concrete runway at Juneau Airport after landing with its wheels up, federal authorities said Thursday.

The floatplane, owned by Ward Air Inc., made its ''wheels up'' landing without incident at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday with only the pilot aboard, said Fred Kaiser, safety inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration.

No one was injured but the runway was closed for about six minutes while the plane was raised and its gear was lowered, Kaiser said.

The pilot's name would not be released until an official report was filed with the FAA, Kaiser said.

Kaiser said it was unclear why the plane landed on the concrete runway and not the water landing area that runs parallel to the main runway. He said there was a lot of air traffic in the area at the time of the incident.

Officials at Ward Air, a flight service that offers sightseeing tours and shuttle service in the area, could not be reached for comment immediately Thursday.