Ashley Masakadza

A RwandAir flight bound for Cape Town narrowly avoided disaster yesterday afternoon when a tyre burst during takeoff at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

The dramatic incident, which caused a temporary disruption of runway services  resulted in no injuries.

RwandAir flight WB110, carrying 65 passengers and 8 crew members, failed to take off at 12:45 p.m. when its tyre burst, according to a statement by the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ).

The company said the response from the aircraft’s crew and Fire Fighting Services ensured that no-one was harmed. The incident resulted in flights being diverted to Airports in Bulawayo and Lusaka for some hours to pave way for rescue efforts. However,  normal services were restored by 15:00 hours.

“We commend the swift response and professionalism of the RwandAir crew and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services in ensuring their safety. The incident triggered a rapid response, with airport emergency services rushing to the scene. By 3:10 p.m., the runway was cleared, and normal operations resumed.

” We extend our gratitude to all involved parties, including the RwandAir and Air Zimbabwe team, for their cooperation and assistance in swiftly resolving the situation,” said ACZ.