[imagesource:wikicommons]

Once upon a time, Boeing’s safety record was so impressive that there used to be a saying among pilots: “If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going.” These days they may as well say “Boeing, Boeing, gone.”

Footage has been circulating that shows an American Airlines Boeing 737 needing to abort takeoff after the crew reported several of its tyres blowing as the aeroplane was reaching liftoff speed.

The 737-800 aircraft, scheduled to fly between Tampa International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, had to reject its takeoff after reaching a speed of 150 knots. Fortunately, the pilots managed to bring the plane to a stop safely.

Passengers were seen leaving the plane and were taken back to the terminal via bus.

American Airlines told Simple Flying that there were no injuries onboard the plane, which was carrying 174 passengers and six crew members. The issue involved some of the plane’s tyres, and passengers were re-accommodated on a replacement flight.

The aeroplane involved in the incident is a 25-year-old Boeing 737-800. It was delivered to American Airlines in May 1999 and has accumulated more than 63,000 flight hours across 26,171 cycles as of January 31, 2024, per ch-aviation.

This is not the only issue Boeing has had with landing gear in the last few years.

In 2022, a Boeing 737 operating a flight from New York JFK to Phoenix had to abort its takeoff after suffering multiple burst tyres, and in 2023, a Southwest Boeing 737 suffered a blown tyre upon landing, causing minor damage to the wing. In January this year, another Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying from London Heathrow to Mumbai also burst some tyres during takeoff.

Someone at Being needs to check up on their tyre-safety inspections.

[source:simpleflying]