U.S. plane makes emergency landing after tire catches fire

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 13:27

HOUSTON, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane of the U.S. Southwest Airlines landed safely at Houston's Hobby Airport Tuesday after one of its tires caught fire. No one was injured.

Flight 519, which was traveling from New Orleans to Houston, was carrying 47 passengers and 5 crew members when it made an emergency landing before 8 p.m. Tuesday local time, Southwest Airlines spokesman Paul Flaningan said.

Flaningan said no one was injured. Other media reports said a few passengers complained of minor injuries from sliding the emergency chutes.

Television footage showed passengers deplaning via emergency slides.

The fire was extinguished by firemen from Houston Fire Department, and tire blowout was the likely cause of the fire, according to local media.

Editor:Zhang Yun