Plane makes emergency landing at Australian airport after landing gear fails

A light plane has made a "textbook wheels-up" landing during an emergency at Newcastle airport.

Report informs via foreign media that emergency crews were on standby after the pilot reported the plane's landing gear had failed just before 10am.

The aircraft had circled above for more than two hours before it made the landing.

Its engines appeared to power down as it approached the runway and touched down, eventually sliding to a stop.

There were loud cheers from crowds that had lined the airport's perimeter to watch.

Ambulances and fire trucks raced to the stricken aircraft before the three occupants were seen to walk from the plane.