An Etihad Airways plane carrying 289 passengers and 11 crew members was forced to abort its takeoff from Melbourne Airport on January 5, 2025, after the aircraft’s tires reportedly “exploded,” emitting smoke and flames. Passengers onboard described the harrowing experience, claiming the plane had to “slam on the emergency brakes” as the landing gear malfunctioned. Firefighters deployed foam on the aircraft as a precautionary measure, and all passengers were safely evacuated with no injuries reported.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating as Flight EY461 to Abu Dhabi, was halted on the runway following the incident. Emergency services responded swiftly, and passengers were transported back to the terminal via buses. The malfunction also caused delays at Melbourne Airport, as repairs on the plane began and only one runway remained operational.
All the occupants are safe after an Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plane (A6-BLN) with 289 passengers on board aborted take-off on Runway 34 after malfunction of the plane's landing gear led to smoke and damage to two of the wheels this afternoon at Melbourne Airport… pic.twitter.com/zb4HtTjMKV
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) January 5, 2025
An Etihad Airways spokesperson stated that the takeoff was halted due to “technical reasons,” and the airline apologized for the disruption, emphasizing that passenger safety is their top priority. Melbourne Airport’s team also confirmed firefighting efforts were precautionary and that the passengers had been safely evacuated.
The incident has raised concerns about aircraft safety protocols and technical inspections. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the malfunction, but quick actions by the flight crew and emergency responders averted what could have been a serious disaster.
