American Airlines Boeing 737 Blows Tires During Takeoff in Florida
An American Airlines Boeing 737-800 had to abort its takeoff from Tampa International Airport (TPA) on July 10th after blowing multiple tires. The incident was captured on video by a YouTube channel, showing the aircraft coming to a halt before fire trucks arrived.
The Boeing 737-800, scheduled to fly from Tampa to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), reached a speed of approximately 150 knots before the tires burst. The video, posted by Captain Steven Markovich, shows the aircraft exiting the runway safely, where it was met by emergency services.
There were no injuries among the 174 passengers and six crew members onboard. American Airlines quickly re-accommodated passengers on a replacement flight from Tampa. A spokesperson for the airline stated, "American Airlines flight 590 with service from Tampa (TPA) to Phoenix (PHX) experienced a mechanical issue on the runway prior to taking off. Customers safely deplaned and were bussed to the terminal. We never want to disrupt our customers' travel plans and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."
The aircraft involved, registered as N908AN, is a 25-year-old Boeing 737-800 that has logged over 63,000 flight hours across more than 26,000 cycles. It was operating flight AA590 with a scheduled departure time of 07:30 and arrival time of 08:49.
American Airlines operates a diverse fleet, including over 300 Boeing 737-800s and more than 60 737 MAX 8s, with over 100 MAX 10s on order. This incident is not isolated; similar events have occurred previously. In 2022, another American Airlines 737 had to abort its takeoff due to tire bursts. Earlier this year, an Air Canada Boeing 787-9 experienced a similar issue during takeoff from London Heathrow, and in 2023, a Southwest Boeing 737 suffered a blown tire upon landing in Orlando.
These incidents highlight the importance of rigorous safety protocols and quick response measures to ensure passenger safety during such emergencies.