On January 5, 2025, Etihad Airways flight EY461, bound for Abu Dhabi, found itself caught in a harrowing situation at Melbourne International Airport when it was forced to abort takeoff after two of its tyres burst. The near-tragic incident unfolded around 6:15 PM as the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying 289 passengers, was accelerating down runway 34.
Early reports indicated the aircraft encountered technical issues prompting the crew to execute emergency protocols. An Etihad Airways spokesperson later confirmed, “The flight crew decided to reject the take-off for technical reasons.” Despite the unsettling nature of the event, all passengers were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported.
Witness accounts from those aboard portrayed the chaotic scene as passengers felt the aircraft hit the brakes abruptly. “There was no indication anything was wrong until the brakes went on quite hard and quite suddenly,” recounted Vince, one of the passengers. Following the rejected takeoff, emergency services quickly responded, surrounding the plane on the runway.
Melbourne Airport’s Aviation Rescue and Firefighting Service deployed firefighting foam to the landing gear as standard practice under such circumstances. Fire crews noted the unusual tire bursts, which caused significant damage to the aircraft and prevented it from being towed away immediately. The north-south runway was closed for several hours as crews worked on resolving the situation, severely disrupting flight schedules during one of the airport’s busiest periods.
According to airport officials, the runway only reopened by the following morning after thorough inspections were completed, allowing regular operations to resume. Annotations of the incident show the need for constant vigilance and readiness for technical failures even during routine operations. “The safety and comfort of our guests and crew remain our highest priority,” said Etihad Airways, highlighting their commitment to passenger safety.
This incident prompted the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to launch an investigation to determine the underlying causes of the tyre bursts. The agency aims to understand the technical failures and assess measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring as air travel continues to grow.
Notably, Flight EY461 utilized the Boeing 787-9 model registered as A6-BLN. This plane is relatively new to the Etihad Airways fleet, having first entered service in June 2017. The mixture of age and technological advancements typical of newer aircraft makes the circumstances around this event particularly concerning to industry experts and passengers alike.
Passengers who disembarked afterward were ferried back to the terminal and provided with assistance for their onward journeys amid the chaos. During this time, anguish among those waiting for the incident to resolve was palpable, exacerbated by the fact they were confined aboard the aircraft for approximately 14 hours before being evacuated. Passenger treatment following such incidents often draws scrutiny and organizations are urged to improve their emergency protocols.
Arriving travelers and those waiting for flights at the airport were caught off guard by the delays induced by the runway closure, with many flights being stranded or rerouted as the airport managed the aftermath of the incident. Melbourne Airport quickly communicated updates via social media, striving to inform affected passengers and observers of the situation as it unfolded.
All remaining flights scheduled during the incident were heavily impacted, demonstrating the ripple effect of such emergencies on airports' operations and passengers' travel plans. The airport authority assured the public they are reviewing how it managed the response and communicating with the appropriate stakeholders about the situation and its lessons.
Etihad Airways took to social media to express their commitment to the safety and efficiency of their operations during the crisis. They reiterated their commitment to passenger and crew safety, stating they regret any inconvenience caused by the incident. “Our teams are working to enable them to continue their onward journeys as quickly as possible,” the airline announced as they sought to placate concerned passengers.
The aftermath of the incident will surely encourage wider discussions on aviation safety standards and regulations, compounding the already heightened focus on operational safety amid heightened airline activity post-pandemic. Passengers and aviation professionals alike will look to the ATSB’s findings as they await clarity on the mechanics of the incident.