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An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER successfully landed in Los Angeles after experiencing a tire blowout during takeoff from Washington Dulles International Airport. The incident, which occurred on Thursday evening, did not result in any injuries among the 175 passengers and six crew members on board.
Video footage captured by a passenger showed the aircraft jolting as it accelerated down the runway. The aircrew communicated with Air Traffic Control, noting that the event happened at approximately 160 knots but did not cause significant damage. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed debris was found on the runway: "Around 6:10 pm on Thursday, members of Dulles International Airport operations were notified of debris on a runway and removed what appeared to be the remnants of the tire of a plane."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident. Despite concerns about potential issues with the landing gear, such as resistance when stowing it, the flight crew decided to continue to Los Angeles rather than return to Dulles. They monitored fuel levels and determined there was no reason to discontinue the flight.
