An American Airlines flight departing from Tampa International Airport in Florida narrowly avoided disaster when one of its tires exploded on the runway.
Tampa, US: A major incident was averted in the US state of Florida after an American Airlines flight with 174 passengers aborted take-off at the last minute as it suffered multiple tyre bursts on the runway. The pilot noticed smoke billowing below the plane’s right engine and applied brakes.
American Airlines flight 590 was taking off from the Tampa airport in Florida on Wednesday when the incident happened. A viral video shows the aircraft accelerating for take-off and seconds before liftoff, the tyres blew out, leaving a trail of smoke after which the pilot hits the brakes to abort departure.
All 174 passengers and six crew members safely evacuated the flight without any injuries. Alfredo Garduno, spokesperson for American Airlines, confirmed that the plane was brought to the terminal. The airline promptly arranged a replacement flight for the passengers, and normal operations at the Florida airport remained unaffected.
The video, recorded by Captain Steven Markovich, renowned for his aviation-themed YouTube channel, captures his audible reaction in the background. Despite the tyre explosion, the plane continued taxiing until it came to a stop at the end of the runway. Emergency vehicles swiftly responded to the scene following the plane’s halt.
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