January 5th 2025.
Passengers on an Etihad flight from Melbourne were in for a terrifying experience when their plane was forced to suddenly brake at high speed while attempting to take off. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was going nearly 300km/h, as reported by the flight tracking site Flightradar24, before the takeoff was aborted just before 7pm yesterday.
The unexpected stop resulted in damage to the plane's tyres, leaving it stranded on the runway. As a precautionary measure, the airport used firefighting foam and the runway was temporarily blocked. "Due to the tyre damage, we are unable to tow the aircraft off the runway," explained Melbourne Airport. "Repairs are already underway and all passengers have safely disembarked and been transported to the terminal."
Despite the disruption, the airport was able to keep one runway open for arrivals and departures, minimizing the impact on other flights. However, there were three cancelled arrivals and departures between 7pm and midnight, although it was not confirmed if they were related to the emergency stop.
A passenger on the flight, who was headed to Abu Dhabi on EY461, described the intense situation to radio host Jacqui Felgate. "We had to slam on the emergency brakes while attempting to take off," they recounted. "Apparently, the landing gear caught fire and two tyres burst." The passenger shared this information in a text message that was later posted on Instagram by a Nine journalist.
Etihad, the airline operating the flight, stated that the decision to halt takeoff was due to "technical reasons." The plane was safely brought to a stop on the runway and emergency services were called as a precaution. "All passengers have been safely disembarked and our team is working to ensure they can continue their onward journeys as soon as possible," assured the airline.
Inconveniences aside, Etihad expressed their sincere regret for any disturbances caused and emphasized that the safety and comfort of passengers and crew remains their top priority. As for the foam applied to the tyres, it is a standard procedure following a high-speed rejected takeoff.
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