By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Istock.
A privately-owned airline Airlink confirmed its flight 4Z 951 from Johannesburg to Cape Town this afternoon experienced a tyre burst during its take off roll.
Airlink arranged buses and mobile stairs to transfer passengers from the aircraft to a replacement plane, which was being prepared for departure.
In an update, the airline said passengers had boarded the replacement aircraft and continued their journey to Cape Town. Engineers were inspecting the original aircraft to determine how it could be safely moved off the runway.
Airlink apologised for the delay, disruption and inconvenience caused to travellers.
If a tyre bursts during the take-off roll, pilots follow standard high-speed or low-speed abort protocols (or safely continue the climb if already airborne, depending on the exact speed and phase), and South African airports company have established emergency response plans to handle disabled aircraft quickly.
Cape Town is a popular tourist city and its international airport the second-busiest in South Africa. It serves as a major hub for domestic and international flights, including direct routes to major global cities and the high-demand corridor to Johannesburg.