Southwest Airlines Flight WN225 Returns to Denver After Tire Burst on Departure
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registered N933WN, returned safely to Denver on June 3 after a tire burst during takeoff. The incident occurred while operating flight WN225 from Denver to Phoenix, leading to an emergency landing back at the departure airport.
According to the Aviation Herald, the aircraft had 137 passengers on board and was departing from Denver's runway 25. At approximately 10,000 feet, the crew decided to abort the climb and declared an emergency due to the loss of a hydraulic system. The aircraft landed safely on Denver's runway 34L around 30 minutes after takeoff.
On June 7, WIO News reported a statement from the airline: "Southwest Flight 225 returned safely to Denver on Monday, June 3, after a tire failed during takeoff. Following standard safety procedures, the pilots declared an emergency before landing. The flight landed without incident and taxied off the runway. A separate aircraft operated the scheduled flight to Phoenix." The airline thanked the crew for their professionalism during the incident.
Passenger Julianna Donadio, a Boulder resident, described the scene on board as frightening after a loud noise was heard when the tire blew. She mentioned to KDVR, "We knew we had blown a tire, but we didn't know what the landing gear situation was. When the flight attendants said we would have an emergency landing, we started to panic slightly. People were crying and screaming and trying to console one another. When we landed, everyone was cheering and clapping."
Donadio added that the crew prepared passengers for a potential crash landing by instructing them to adopt the brace position, which involves placing feet flat on the floor, knees together, leaning forward, and keeping elbows by the sides.
The brace position is designed to minimize the impact of a crash by bringing the body closer to surrounding objects, reducing the risk of injury from excessive movement. Instructions for the brace position may vary slightly depending on aviation regulations in different regions. In the US, passengers are advised to place their hands on top of the front seat, while in other regions, they may be instructed to put their hands parallel to their toes. Adopting the brace position can significantly increase chances of survival in a plane crash.