American Airlines Plane Tire Catches Fire During Takeoff at Tampa International Airport

On Wednesday, July 10 th, an American Airlines flight encountered a terrifying incident during its takeoff from Tampa International Airport in Florida. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft was en route to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona when it experienced a tire blowout around 7:50 a.m. ET, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration and American Airlines.

Smoke-Filled Scene

A video captured the dramatic moment when the plane's right tire blew out, causing it to catch fire. The footage showed the aircraft taxiing on the runway with the smoking and flaming tire, leaving tire fragments in its wake. The severity of the situation was evident from the urgent shouts of a plane spotter, Captain Steven Markovich, as he called out, "Emergency! Emergency! Emergency! They're on fire!"

Safe Evacuation

Despite the alarming nature of the incident, American Airlines reassured that all 174 passengers and six crew members on board were safely evacuated following the tire blowout. The airline promptly arranged for the customers to be deplaned and transported back to the terminal without any reported injuries.

Investigation and Apology

Subsequently, the airline attributed the mishap to a mechanical issue and confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation into the matter. American Airlines expressed regret for the disruption caused to their customers' travel plans, emphasizing their dedication to ensuring passenger safety and convenience.