On a seemingly ordinary Sunday, Faro Airport was abuzz with emergency activity. Ryanair flight FR9561, bound for Belfast, Northern Ireland, was forced to return and execute an emergency landing. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, registered as EI-EVK, was carrying approximately 189 passengers. Shortly after take-off at 07:50, one of its tires burst. This unexpected incident led to the decision to return to Faro Airport.
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In response to the tire burst, the aircraft had to dump fuel over Faro Bay before landing². This procedure, which took about an hour, was necessary to ensure a safe landing. Despite the shredded tire seen "flapping about," the emergency landing was carried out safely.
Dozens of emergency vehicles raced to the scene as Faro Airport sounded the red alert. The Boeing 737-800 circled for a while to burn fuel and lower weight for the emergency landing. The incident was called in shortly after 8 a.m. – the flight had taken off at 7.50 a.m. The aircraft performed a low flypast before circling for a while then landed safely minutes later.
All 190 passengers were unharmed. The flight, FR9561, became the most tracked flight on Flightradar during the incident. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and quick response in aviation. It also highlights the efficiency and effectiveness of the crew and ground personnel in handling such emergencies.
