Delta Airlines 767 Returns to Sao Paulo After Tire Damage on Takeoff
Delta Airlines Boeing 767
A Delta Airlines Boeing 767 jet flying from Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport to Detroit Metro (DTW) this morning returned to Sao Paulo when a tire was damaged during takeoff.
Delta Flight 256 landed just after 1 AM local time after the tire apparently blew out.
‘The tire problem was known shortly after takeoff at 10:32 p.m. Thursday. But the pilots circled over Sao Paulo for about two hours to burn fuel and lighten the aircraft for the landing, which was carried out normally on the aircraft’s remaining tires.’
There were no injuries according to airport officials.
The cause of the blow out is not known at this time.
Image: Flickr [GTAerospace]
Category: Airnation
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I thought that the Boeing B767 had a FUEL DUMP system.
This would have been a 10 hour flight. The two hours “burning” fuel was most likely spent “dumping” fuel. These pilots must have been using these two hours contacting company to find out where they should land. They would need to discuss the logistics of finding a replacement aircraft, etc.
In a situation like this, it’s often better to take the plane back to a Delta “hub” where they have replacement aircraft and Delta mechanics to repair the aircraft. If the crew continued to South America, the plane would have been stuck there until they could fly Delta mechanics and parts down there.
Well i figured out why the crew didn’t continue on to the final destination. Evidently debris from the burst tire hit the underside of the wing causing damage to the flaps. The crew got a warning when they tried to retract the flaps, so they burned fuel for the two hours and landed.
where did you here about the hole in the wing
I was on this flight. We dumped fuel while circling the airport for about 2 hours and then the crew came on and stated that we were going to lower the landing gear to try to burn up fuel faster. This is when, I believe, that the remaining portion of the tire came off and blew through the wing, but that is just my assumption (the plane shook like crazy when the gear was put down and also when we blew the tire on take off). I assume it blew then because they stated we would be on the ground in 15 minutes and we circled for at least another hour. At one point the pilot came back and moved passengers to look out the window (We didn’t know that at the time as he was wearing a coat over his uniform, probably trying to keep passengers calm). Anyway, we landed going very fast because we did not use flaps. The crew did an amazing job landing safe. Pilot stated it was his first landing of such nature in 30 years. I have a picture of the hole in the wing, I am just not sure how to post it here. Let me know and I can.
Hi Kurt,
We can update the story here and link to a new post on our message forum (The Social Hangar).
Send me an email info AT airnation DOT NET and we’ll discuss. :)