United Airlines Plane Blows Tire on Takeoff but Keeps Going

United Airlines Plane Blows Tire on Takeoff but Keeps Going
A file photo of a United Airlines flight in San Francisco on July 8, 2015. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Zachary Stieber
2/26/2018
Updated:
2/26/2018

A United Airlines plane blew a tire before taking off on Sunday, Feb. 25, but took off anyway.

Flight 1551 blew a tire on its front landing gear before taking off from Newark Liberty International Airport.

The plane touched down at about 10:30 p.m. at Portland International Airport.

The pilots were able to safely navigate the landing despite the loss of a tire, reported KGW.

Passenger Fraser Wright said that the landing was “quite bumpy” after the gear touched ground. “I think after we came to a stop, we all felt very comfortable,” he said.

Passenger Kyle Hobbs said that “the whole plane rattled” after take off.

“It was scary when we took off, the whole plane shook and then about 90 minutes before we landed, the crew got us together, took us through how to brace, moved some elderly people around in case they needed help, and moved some luggage around, and then we came home,” Hobbs told KATU.

About 90 minutes before landing, attendants moved around some passengers and luggage.

Flight attendants gave instructions on how passengers should position their bodies before landing, with one passenger, a pilot, showing those around him where to put their hands to avoid breaking fingers.

The crew warned passengers to “brace, brace, brace!” just before landing.

Hobbs said that the “crew was great” with their instructions and preparation for the bumpy landing.

Emergency responders with the Port of Portland and Portland Fire Department had set up in Portland but no injuries were reported.

“We received word of an aircraft inbound reporting an issue and we had crews standing by to assist,” PDX spokesperson Kama Simonds told KOIN.

There were 122 passengers and 6 crew members on board.

The plane was towed to a gate after coming to a stop.

The landing didn’t impact any other flights.

From NTD.tv
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