- American Airlines Loud Explosion After Landing Argyle Airport SVG
- AA Flight 909 Landing Gear Damage AIA, St Vincent
St. Vincent’s Argyle Airport has reopened after American Airlines flight 909 from Miami on Monday afternoon blew two of its main landing gear tires during a routine landing.
In a release late Monday night, the airport said it had “resumed operations.”
“American Airlines, Flight 909, with service from Miami International Airport to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD), experienced a mechanical issue upon landing at SVD. The aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. We thank our crew for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding,” said American Airlines officials in a statement.
James Bacchus, a regular plane spotter, told St Vincent Times on Monday afternoon. “Shortly after landing, I heard a loud bang when it was passing the terminal building, and then I saw smoke coming from the landing gear area.”
The firefighters promptly attended to the aircraft, leading to the evacuation of its passengers. Currently, there are no documented instances of injury among passengers.
The aircraft employed for the route was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, a twin-jet configuration.
This marks the second occurrence that American Airlines has experienced at Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent. On June 5, 2021, an incident involving a “bird strike” led to the rejection of takeoff by the airline’s Boeing 737 Max 8.
This recent incident in St. Vincent is not the first time American Airlines has experienced problems with its tires blowing on a runway.
In July 2024, American Airlines Flight 590 was preparing for takeoff from Tampa International Airport bound for Phoenix, Arizona, when, as it was accelerating down the runway about to liftoff from the tarmac, a tire blew under the aircraft near the right wing, causing black smoke to billow from beneath it.
Investigations are ongoing as to the cause of the blown tires.
- RSVGPF Fire Brigade Responds to Aircraft Incident at AIA
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) wishes to inform the public of an incident involving American Airlines Flight 909, which occurred on Monday, January 20, 2025, at approximately 4:42 PM at the Argyle International Airport (AIA).
According to reports, the aircraft, registration N328TC, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, experienced a failure of its left rear tire upon landing. Upon receiving the report, the RSVGPF Fire Brigade promptly dispatched a team of fire personnel from the AIA Fire Station to respond to the incident.
Witnesses in the vicinity of the airport reported hearing a loud bang as the aircraft passed the terminal building, followed by smoke emitting from the landing gear area. However, fire personnel, upon arrival and assessment, confirmed that there were no signs of fire.
The aircraft was carrying 106 passengers and six (6) crew members, all of whom were safely evacuated without injury. Passengers disembarked at 5:37 PM and were transported via taxis.
The aircraft was subsequently towed off the runway, and normal airport operations at Argyle International Airport (AIA) have since resumed. Investigations into the cause of the blown tire are ongoing, and the RSVGPF continues to work alongside relevant aviation authorities to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the situation.
The RSVGPF commends the swift response and professionalism of the Fire Brigade in managing the incident effectively.
