An American Airlines plane blew several tires at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Saturday, temporarily shutting down two runways and diverting flights as passengers had to be bussed from the aircraft to a terminal.
At around 4 p.m., American Airlines flight 4965 arriving from Memphis, Tennessee, stopped on the runway, prompting a response from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Fire and Rescue, an MWAA spokesperson said.
“American Eagle flight 4965, operated by Republic Airways... experienced a mechanical issue upon landing at DCA," American Airlines said in a statement. "All passengers were bussed to the terminal.”
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Authorities worked to move passengers from the aircraft to the terminal, and two of the airport’s three runways were temporarily closed by Air Traffic Control as crews assessed the situation, according to the MWAA spokesperson.
The plane landed safely at Reagan National before the tires blew out. None of the 71 passengers and four crew members were injured, Republic Airways said.
One runway reopened around 6:15 p.m. and air traffic was resuming. At 8 p.m., all runways were open, the airport said.
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Some flights had to be diverted to Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Travelers flying to or from Reagan National Airport Saturday were asked to contact their airline directly for the latest information on their flight status.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would investigate the mechanical issue.
