Plane passengers had a lucky escape when two tyres burst during take-off, snapping a propeller blade and smashing a window.
The Bombardier DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 had 45 onboard when the accident happened.
According to reports, one twin wheel’s tyres burst as the turboprop was taking off from Rhourd Enous Airfield in Illizi Province, Algeria.
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It’s believed debris from the tyres struck a propeller, breaking off a blade tip, which then struck a passenger window.
Some reports say a wing may have sustained damage, too, during the accident on Saturday (3 Aug) morning.
Despite a window breaking away, no one on board was injured and the passengers reportedly stayed calm throughout the ordeal.
After leaving the ground, the pilots shut down an engine, as reported on Need To Know.
They then circled the airfield and made a safe emergency landing on the runway, as per standard procedures.
The passengers were later taken to their destination in Oran on another plane.
It’s believed they were Sonatrach, Algeria’s national state-owned oil company, workers from a nearby oil field.
Tassili Airlines said in a statement: “During take-off, the aircraft experienced a tyre burst.
“The crew managed the situation skillfully, following standard procedures to return and land on the same runway without any damage or panic.”
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