An Eithad plane with almost 300 passengers on board has been forced to abort take-off after smoke from its landing gear caused two wheels to burst.
Etihad Airways flight EY461 bound for Abu Dhabi was moments from take-off at Melbourne Airport on Sunday night when the drama unfolded.
Footage from the scene shows the plane on the tarmac surrounded by fire trucks.
A passenger on board told 3AW’s Jacqui Felgate that the plane ‘had to slam on the emergency brakes’ during take-off after the landing gear ‘apparently caught fire’.
The Boeing 787 jet has two deflated wheels and remained on the runway on Sunday night, which is currently closed.
There are no reports of injuries and all 289 passengers have since disembarked from the plane and returned to the terminal.
‘The flight crew decided to halt the take-off for technical reasons, the aircraft was safely brought to a stop on the runway and emergency services attended as a precaution,’ an Etihad Airways spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
Fire crews met the Etihad Airways plane on the tarmac after smoke came from its landing gear
Multiple fire crews attended the scene after the packed plane was forced to abort take-off
‘The fire service applied foam to the tyres on the aircraft’s landing gear, which is a routine precaution following a high-speed rejected take-off.’
The pre-flight drama has caused lengthy delays in both departures and arrivals at Melbourne Airport.
‘Due to damage to the aircraft’s tyres, we have been unable to tow it off the runway. Repairs are currently underway,’ an airport spokeswoman said.
‘We continue to have one runway available for operations which will be used for all arrivals and departures.’
The airline is now making alternative arrangements for impacted passengers.
‘Etihad Airways sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused,’ a spokesman said.
‘The safety and comfort of our guests and crew remain our highest priority.’
One passenger later took to X to express vent about the airline’s ‘lack of customer service.’
‘Removing passengers without prior warning due to something that was known is not a good way to ensure we fly with you again,’ he wrote.
Almost 300 passengers were on board the plane bound for Abu Dhabi
