Tire Malfunction Forces Singaporean Flight to Return to Chinese City

Source: Xinhua    Author:    06/26/2008

Subject Concerned: Airlines   

On June 26, a Singaporean flight was forced to return to Xiamen in southeast China in the afternoon when it experienced a tire malfunction. No casualties were reported.

Flight MI921 bound for Singapore took off from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at 1:23 p.m. and requested to return seven minutes later when a tire malfunction was discovered, an airport spokesman said.

An emergency team involving firemen, first-aid personnel and police was immediately set up at the airport to prepare for a possible rescue operation.

The A320 aircraft, operated by SilkAir and carrying 117 passengers and nine crew, landed safely at 3:45 p.m..

Passengers were taken to a local hotel while mechanical workers repaired the aircraft.

Photograph: A SilkAir-operated Airbus A319 jet. Photo contributed by CARNOC.com message board member - taecoxu.