These images show how four tires of a passenger plane were completely destroyed when they burst as the aircraft was landing.
The startling incident took place when the ATR 42 plane operated by Romania’s flag carrier Tarom came in to land at Otopeni Airport near the country’s capital, Bucharest after taking off in the city of Satu Mare, in northern Romania’s Satu Mare County with the flight number RO638.
Local media report a malfunction with the plane’s landing gear caused four tyres to blow on landing and startling images show the destroyed tyres.
One of the 22 passengers on board, Ciprian Dan Costea shared images of the blown tyres and blamed the authorities managing Tarom for exposing them to danger.
He wrote on social media: “I publicly request an elaborated investigation into Tarom and the Bucharest Airport Company. A few minutes ago, the plane from Satu Mare landed in Bucharest. It is intolerable that all the four tires of the landing gear exploded on landing.
“This is the result of incompetence from the Transportation Ministry, which manages both the companies mentioned above.”
Costea told Central European News (CEN): “The flight was normal. Landing was also normal, but immediately, with the deceleration, there were noises and trembles from the aircraft. These were due to the fact that the tyres were destroyed and the metallic landing gear, those rims, touched the runway.
“Clearly there was a problem. There was a moment of relative panic (the silence of the passengers, because they did not understand what was going on) when the aircraft was stopped and all the intervention crews appeared around the aircraft.
He added: “But nobody was hysterical, shouting or totally panicking. It is good that there wasn’t a fire. The plane was stuck on the runway and we had to wait for a few minutes until the intervention teams checked the exterior and the aircraft could be evacuated.
“However, it is unacceptable that all four wheels of the aircraft were destroyed. Absolutely inadmissible. It is clear that it was a problem.”
A team from the Civil Aviation Safety Investigation and Analysis Authority went to the scene to start an investigation.
No injuries were reported and there were no disruptions to other flights.
Airline Tarom said in a statement: “Tarom informs the public about the incident that occurred on the landing of RO638, which operated on the Satu Mare – Bucharest route, having 22 passengers on board. After landing, the main tyres gave way. The plane was safely stopped and the passengers were disembarked according to the procedures.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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Story By: Gabriel Zamfir, Sub-Editor:Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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