A tire on an American Airlines plane ignited this Wednesday at the Tampa International Airport, Florida, while the aircraft was accelerating on the runway for takeoff. The flight, bound for Phoenix, Arizona, had 174 passengers and six crew members on board. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Striking images that have gone viral on social media show the moment a fireball appeared on one of the tires as the plane—a Boeing 737-800—was moving down the runway. The video, captured by Captain Steven Markovich, reveals his astonishment at the incident. The full seven-minute video shows several emergency trucks from Tampa International Airport arriving to ensure the safety of the plane and its occupants.
American Airlines acknowledged that there was a mechanical issue with flight 590 from Tampa to Phoenix while it was on the runway, but did not specify the cause of the incident.
"American Airlines flight 590, operating from Tampa (TPA) to Phoenix (PHX), experienced a mechanical problem on the runway before takeoff," the airline said in a statement. "The customers deplaned safely and were transported by bus to the terminal. We do not wish to disrupt our customers' travel plans and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused," they added without further explanation.
Key Information About the American Airlines Incident in Tampa
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the recent mechanical issue that occurred with an American Airlines flight in Tampa.
What caused the fire on the American Airlines plane?
American Airlines has not specified the exact cause of the mechanical issue that led to the tire catching fire.
Were there any injuries reported?
No, there were no injuries reported. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated.
How many people were on board the flight?
The flight had 174 passengers and six crew members on board.
What happened to the passengers after the incident?
Passengers were safely deplaned and transported by bus to the terminal.