A Qantas Boeing 787 aircraft experienced a tire blowout incident upon landing at Perth Airport in Australia, resulting in severe damage to the undercarriage section.
The incident occurred on August 24, 2024, when the 6.6-year-old Qantas Airways Boeing 787-9 wide-body jet, registered VH-ZNC, operated the intercontinental flight QF6 between Italy and Australia. According to flight data from Flightradar24.com, the aircraft departed from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCU) at 12:00 p.m. (UTC). It was scheduled to arrive at Perth Airport (PER) after more than 15 hours of flight.
However, upon landing on runway 24 at Perth Airport, the Dreamliner suffered a blowout of several tires. Initial inspections revealed significant damage to the aircraft’s undercarriage caused by the tire bursts. As of August 25, the plane remained grounded, leading to the cancellation of all subsequent scheduled flights.
Fortunately, no injuries or further incidents were reported.
Aircraft tire blowouts upon arrival are typically caused by a combination of factors, including excessive landing speed, hard or uneven landings, over-inflated or under-inflated tires, and issues with the runway surface, such as debris or potholes. High temperatures generated during braking can also contribute, especially if the tires are already worn or damaged. These conditions can place extreme stress on the tires, leading to a blowout during the critical landing phase.
The aircraft is now under review for investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
