DULLES, Va. (WJLA) — Airport authorities at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia discovered debris on a runway Wednesday evening that “may have once been the tire of a plane,” according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
The debris was found at around 6:10 p.m. and was removed by airport staff.
Preliminary reports suggest the debris came from an Alaska Airlines plane, Flight 309, which departed Dulles en route to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Alaska Airlines confirmed to WJLA that the aircraft experienced a main gear tire failure during departure but did not declare an emergency and return to the airport, however as a precaution during arrival at LAX, pilots declared an emergency landing.
“Alaska Airlines Flight 309 landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport around 8:05 p.m. local time on Thursday, Nov. 14, after the crew reported a possible wheel issue on departure,” the FAA reported.
There were 175 passengers and six crew members on the plane and no injuries were reported, according to the airline.
“While this incident is a rare occurrence, our flight crews train extensively to safely manage through many scenarios,” the airline said. “We understand this might have been a concerning moment for our guests on board. We apologize for what they experienced.”
Officials said the aircraft was being pulled from service while the airline investigated the cause of the tire malfunction.