A Ryanair flight to Italy has wreaked travel chaos for hundreds of flyers after its tyres exploded while landing.
The flight, thought to have come from Barcelona, touched down at Milan Bergamo airport just before 8am this morning – but it was unable to leave the runway after the mishap.
Emergency vehicles flocked to the scene on the tarmac before passengers and crew were able to deplane with the help of some movable stairs.
But in a cruel twist for travellers heading to and from the northern Italian airport, all flights have been suspended – with incoming trips at risk of cancellation.
In a statement on social media, Sacbo, the company which runs Milan Bergamo, said it “advises that due to an aircraft grounded on the runway due to technical problems, operations are suspended.
“Departing flights are delayed and arriving flights may be diverted or cancelled until reopened,” it added.
Local outlet L’Eco di Bergamo reported that there had been “no injuries and no fire” – and shared photos showing the jet’s mangled tyres, which appeared to have been almost shaved down to their axle by the runway’s surface.
A follow-up statement from the airport read: “At 7.55am on Tuesday, October 1, Ryanair flight FR846, arriving from Barcelona El Prat with 161 passengers on board, suffered the bursting of the four tyres of the rear undercarriage during the landing phase.
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A statement from the airport said the tyre blowout caused 450 metres of damage to the runway
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“The damage did not affect the landing manoeuvre and did not cause any problems on board or consequences to the passengers.
“The latter, after the immediate intervention of the Orio al Serio Fire Department Detachment and the securing of the aircraft that remained stationary on the runway, were safely disembarked and escorted toward the air terminal.
“Due to the aircraft stopped on the runway, operations were suspended with the issuing of a Notam (an air hazard warning) that scheduled the runway to open no earlier than 5pm local time.
“Departing flights were delayed and arriving flights were diverted or cancelled.
“The tyre blowout caused 450 metres of damage to the runway. The damage superficially affected the tarmac, which is nicked to a depth of about one centimetre.
“For this reason, it was necessary to restore the tarmac through urgent work entrusted to a specialised firm, to enable the runway to be returned to regular operation.
“The opening of the runway is subject to the removal of the aircraft and the completion of the pavement restoration work.”
A Ryanair spokesman told GB News: “Flight FR846 from Barcelona to Milan Bergamo experienced a tyre issue upon landing at Milan Bergamo Airport.
“Passengers disembarked normally, and the aircraft was inspected by engineers, who are currently servicing the aircraft so that it can return to service.”