Plane carrying 282 passengers makes emergency landing due to tire explosion

An Air Canada plane was forced to return to the UK after a tire burst after takeoff en route to Toronto.

Plane with flat tire makes emergency landing at Gatwick airport. Photo: Rex.

A Boeing 767 flying from London to Toronto on the afternoon of July 17 landed safely at Gatwick Airport in the British capital about an hour after taking off. It had to circle in the sky to burn fuel in an emergency.

"The plane was accelerating during take-off and suddenly there was a bang, then a few cracking sounds," said passenger Fiona Nielsen, quoted by the Evening Standard. The Air Canada Rouge was carrying 282 passengers at the time.

Footage shows two plumes of dust rising from the runway as the plane landed.

The airport was forced to close the main runway after takeoff and again after the plane returned to ensure there was no debris on the ground.

Other planes had to use a second runway, but many flights were cancelled or delayed. Some were diverted to Heathrow and Cardiff airports.

Planes circle in the sky to burn fuel before landing. Graphics: Flightradar.

According to VNE