American Airlines Flight from Tampa to Phoenix Delayed After Tire Blowout and Fire on Runway

An American Airlines flight destined for Phoenix experienced a dramatic tire blowout and subsequent fire during its takeoff from Tampa, marking another incident in a series of similar airline mishaps. The event occurred early Wednesday, causing a temporary delay but no injuries, as confirmed by airline and airport officials.

The incident involved a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which encountered what airline spokesperson Alfredo Garduño described as a “mechanical issue” with one of its tires during the runway acceleration. Emergency services at Tampa International Airport responded swiftly after the tire not only blew out but also ignited, creating a perilous situation just as the flight was about to lift off.

Joshua Gillin, a spokesperson for Tampa International Airport, detailed that the emergency teams were alerted just before 8 a.m. and quickly managed the situation. All 174 passengers and six crew members aboard were evacuated safely and transported back to the terminal without harm. The airport operations were reportedly unaffected by the incident, and all passengers were accommodated on subsequent flights to Phoenix.

Garduño issued an apology on behalf of American Airlines, expressing regret over the disruption caused to passengers’ travel plans. He emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety and customer satisfaction in managing such unexpected events.

The incident coincides with another recent event involving United Airlines, where a plane lost a tire during takeoff from Los Angeles to Denver. Fortunately, that flight too concluded safely with no injuries reported, though it has prompted a federal safety review of United Airlines by the Federal Aviation Administration, highlighting ongoing concerns over aircraft tire safety in the aviation industry.