05/01/2004 15:54 - (SA) http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1465788,00.html Munich, Germany - German police on Monday hailed the pilot of an Austrian Airlines plane after it was forced to make an emergency belly landing on a snow-covered field at Munich airport, southern Germany. The Fokker 70 jet, with 28 passengers and four crew aboard, landed on open ground about two kilometres from the runway at the airport, which is Germany's second biggest. The pilot had earlier reported an engine problem to the control tower as he was coming in to land after taking off an hour earlier from Vienna. Three people were slightly hurt and the plane's undercarriage destroyed in the landing. A police spokesperson said it had been "a masterly performance" by the pilot, whose actions had prevented even worse damage. The passengers and crew were able to leave the twin-engined plane and were bussed to the airport terminal. An airport spokesperson said the pilot first reported the engine problem, then made the landing without lowering the plane's undercarriage. The incident occurred at around 08:20, half an hour after the late-running Flight OS 111 had been due to land. The spokesperson said the incident, together with heavy snowfall, was causing delays to other take-offs and landings as one of the airport's two runways had to be temporarily closed. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the problem. brgds from Vienna, Manfred