NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) — A pilot distracted by a bee in the cockpit forgot to lower his landing gear and did a "belly slide" down the runway at the New Bedford Regional Airport.

Airport Commission Chair Paul Barton tells The Standard-Times that the single-engine plane slid 1,000 to 1,500 feet when it landed at about 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Although the plane sustained significant damage, the pilot, the only person on board, was not hurt. Barton said it does not appear as though the runway was damaged.

Fire Department District Chief David Cooper says the pilot was swatting at a bee in the cabin and somehow forgot to lower the landing gear.

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