300 Passengers On Etihad Flight Escape Unhurt After Landing Gear Catches Fire At Melbourne Airport

Melbourne: Around 300 passengers onboard a Boeing 787 had a narrow escape at the Melbourne Airport in Australia after the landing gear of Etihad flight EY461 caught fire while taking off. According to the reports, the fire erupted after two of the tyres exploded when the plane was rolling on the runway to take off.

Following the incident, the pilots immediately aborted the takeoff and emergency services responded to the fire. No injuries have been reported so far, confirms reports. 

An Etihad spokesperson said, "Etihad Airways flight EY461 from Melbourne (MEL) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) experienced a rejected take-off on 5 January 2025. The flight crew decided to halt the take-off for technical reasons, the aircraft was safely brought to a stop on the runway and emergency services attended as a precaution. Guests have been disembarked safely and our teams are working to enable them to continue their onward journeys as quickly as possible.”

“Etihad Airways sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused. The safety and comfort of our guests and crew remain our highest priority. The fire service applied foam to the tyres on the aircraft's landing gear, which is a routine precaution following a high-speed rejected take-off," the airline officials said.

The officials of the Melbourne Airport said that the flight was undergoing repair, adding that one runway was being used for all arrivals and departures. "Etihad Airways flight EY461 rejected take off this evening when departing Melbourne Airport for Abu Dhabi. The Aviation Rescue and Firefighting Service responded to a request from the aircraft and deployed firefighting foam as a precaution. Due to damage to the aircraft's tyres, we have been unable to tow it off the runway. Repairs are currently underway.”

“All passengers have disembarked the aircraft and have been bussed to the terminal. We continue to have one runway available for operations, which will be used for all arrivals and departures. Disruptions to other flights have been minimal," the spokesperson said.