Alaska Airlines jet lands safely at LAX after losing tire on takeoff from D.C.

LOS ANGELES -- Passengers connected an Alaska Airlines formation from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles endured a spot of a scare Thursday nighttime erstwhile the level made a unsmooth landing aft losing a tyre connected takeoff.

One flyer recorded the nerve-wracking accomplishment astatine LAX. The compartment broke retired successful applause aft the level safely enactment wheels down and began slowing to taxi connected the tarmac.

There were 175 passengers and six unit members connected Flight 309, which landed safely astatine LAX astir 8 p.m. with nary reported injuries, according to the airline.

Those passengers included dozens of Orange County mediate schoolhouse students returning from a tract travel to Washington.

"I had to stay truly calm for my daughter," said rider Allison Mueller of Virginia. "I was scared."

The cogwheel occupation was observed soon aft takeoff from Dulles International Airport.

The compartment unit reported implicit the radio feeling a "jolt" beardown capable to popular unfastened immoderate overhead luggage bins and trigger 1 exigency oxygen disguise to autumn from the ceiling.

Passengers reported proceeding a "loud pop" and feeling the level shingle aft takeoff.

The unit asked the airdrome to cheque the runway astatine Dulles to spot if possibly they ran implicit thing connected the aboveground oregon if they did successful information suffer immoderate of the tire. Crews checked the tarmac aboveground and confirmed uncovering pieces of tire.

The landing cogwheel inactive retracted decently and the unit decided to proceed the formation arsenic scheduled.

"There's nary crushed we tin spot to discontinue the formation astatine this point," a compartment unit subordinate is heard saying connected vigor traffic. "Just property connected to Los Angeles and instrumentality attraction of it there."

The formation unit declared an exigency arsenic a precaution and occurrence engines could beryllium seen acceptable adjacent astatine LAX arsenic the level landed. LAX officials accidental the level was capable to safely taxi connected its ain to the gross without further disruption to airdrome operations.

The passengers were alerted to hole astir an hr earlier landing.

"They got america successful the brace position," said rider Brent Drewette of San Juan Capistrano. "It was 10 seconds of truly convulsive shaking. But past exigency crews checked and they brought america successful and everything was fine."

Alaska Airlines says the Boeing 737-900 volition beryllium pulled from work portion the incidental is investigated.

"While this incidental is simply a uncommon occurrence, our formation crews bid extensively to safely negociate done galore scenarios," Alaska Airlines said. "We recognize this mightiness person been a concerning infinitesimal for our guests connected board. We apologize for what they experienced."