Source: The Business Review Author: 01/15/2009
Subject Concerned: Airlines Flight Delay Airport
Albany International Airport was closed to all traffic for just over one hour on Jan. 15 when an aircraft experienced four tire failures.
The aircraft was a 19-passenger Beechcraft 1900, operated by Air Georgian as an Air Canada flight, airport spokesman Doug Myers said.
The aircraft was on a flight from Toronto to Manchester, N.H. The plane had a possible engine problem and requested to land at the airport.
The airport was closed from 10:54 a.m. to 11:58 a.m.
Doug Myers, airport spokesman, said five incoming flights were delayed. Three were diverted to Syracuse, one was diverted to Hartford, Conn., and the fifth plane circled the airport.
As a precaution, the airport rescue and firefighting department stood by during the landing. Myers said the aircraft landed safely and there were no injuries. The plane had seven passengers and two crew members.
Shortly after landing, the aircraft stopped at the intersection of the airport's two runways where it was discovered that the plane's main landing gear tires were damaged. The airport was immediately closed as maintenance workers replaced the plane's tires.
Myers said the cause of the tire failure has not been determined.