The RAF A330 MRTT Voyager in-flight refueling aircraft was taking part in Red Flag 24-1 exercises in the U.S. when one of its tires blew out. It was a minor incident with no major repercussions.
According to the statement issued by the Royal Air Force (RAF), while the aircraft was hurtling down the runway at Nellis Air Force Base at a take-off speed of about 160 km/h, the 204-tonne aircraft’s tire, loaded with 80 tonnes of fuel, failed. The crew felt some slight vibrations at first, as in a routine takeoff, but they were unaware of the seriousness of the incident and the takeoff continued smoothly.
See also: Red Flag 24-1, the world’s most demanding air combat exercise, has begun
Once airborne, tire pressure sensors showed failures in two of the tires. The aircraft’s external inspection cameras were used to confirm the extent of the damage.
The crew also contacted a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter to fly alongside and perform a visual inspection. The Voyager captain and his crew then assessed the available damage information and planned how to land the aircraft safely.
There were a small number of British and Allied passengers on board the Voyager, and the cabin crew made sure they were informed of what was happening.
To minimize the risks of landing with damaged wheels, the crew lengthened the duration of their flight to reduce the amount of fuel and thus the weight on board. In addition, this gave all the fighters time to return to base before the Voyager, as it was possible that it would damage the runway on landing.
The crew contacted firefighters at Nellis AFB to make sure they were positioned next to the runway and ready to meet them. The aircraft landed safely and the firefighters quickly inspected the aircraft to confirm that all was well, subsequently the crew decided that they could taxi back to their parking space at low speed.
RAF engineers worked through the night to replace the wheels, ensuring that Voyager could continue its vital role in the exercise the next day. It was arguably a good, but unexpected, workout.
