“”It was a big thump,”” passenger
Airport spokeswoman
Flight 262 scheduled to arrive at
Five of the injured people were taken to area hospitals, said Capt.
The passengers were then loaded on buses and waited on the tarmac to go to a terminal. Swankie could not confirm reports that a fire was also reported on the plane.
“”A Jet Blue spokesman told me that the flight reported an issue with the brakes,”” Swankie said. “”The crew elected to evacuate the aircraft in an abundance of caution.””
Payne, sitting in a bus on the tarmac described the eventful landing. She had a window seat in the rear of the plane and said she had a good view of the tire blowout.
“”When we landed and we hit, I looked out and saw a tire go out,”” she said. “”Then I saw sparks and we came to a full stop.
“”They immediately opened up the back within seconds. We slid down the chutes.””
She said a firefighter told her the back of the jet was on fire, but she did not see any flames from the plane’s body.
“”But the tires were definitely all on fire,”” said Payne, an insurance company executive in town for a company party.
Payne said she got a scratch on her finger.
“”I’m fine,”” she said.
About six buses were sent to the plane to pick up the passengers. Passengers were calm and the crew performed well, she said.
“”I want to say that the flight attendants were really fantastic,”” she said.
One woman behind her complained of being afraid of flying the entire flight and was “”a bit hysterical”” after the tires blew, Payne said.
Payne said the slide to the tarmac didn’t bother her.
“”I have to be honest with you,”” she said. “”I was laughing.””
After the apparently safe exit, she considers herself lucky.
“”I’m going to buy a lottery ticket,”” she said.
