United Plane Aborts Takeoff at 130 Mph After Pilot ‘Slams Brakes,’ Fire Trucks Rush to Scene

A United Airlines plane aborted its takeoff just seconds before departing a Phoenix airport on Friday morning.

Airport officials told Fox News that the plane was pulled off the runway due to an issue with overheating brakes. The plane, United Flight 1600, was slated to fly to Newark, New Jersey.

“Phoenix Fire responded, per standard procedure. Fire reported no injuries,” a spokesperson for Phoenix’s Sky Harbor told Fox News. “There is no impact to airport operations. Other flights are departing and arriving as usual.”

Fox 10 obtained a statement from the Phoenix airport that said, “Phoenix Fire responded, per standard procedure,” and there were no injuries reported. It’s not clear if other flights were affected.

John Pentecost, a passenger who said he was on the flight, wrote on Twitter that “we were at full power accelerating down the runway, and the pilot slammed on the brakes just before takeoff.” He added that fire trucks then surrounded the flight.

“Warning light forced us to abort. We were nearly airborne & pilot said we were doing 130mph when he stood on the brakes. I thought for sure we’d skid off the runway. Plane sitting lopsided now... must have blown a tire,” he continued.

It comes a few days after a passenger died on a United Airlines flight following a “medical emergency” heading from Houston to Boston, USA Today reported. The plane was diverted to Washington, D.C.

“We are saddened to learn that the customer passed away,” said Jonathan Guerin, a United spokesman, to the paper. “We extend the sincerest condolences to the family.”

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