MELBOURNE, Fla. – A passenger airliner carrying 350 passengers aborted its takeoff from the Melbourne-Orlando International Airport on Friday evening before becoming stuck in the grass near the runway, according to a social media post by Melbourne’s mayor.
Mayor Paul Alfrey said “no injuries” were reported after the B787–9 TUI Airways airplane that was departing for Birmingham, England “aborted their takeoff on runway 9R due to an alarm in the cockpit.”
As the plane was exiting the runway, it right main landing gear went into the grass. Unable to continue the taxi, airport personnel officials responded and helped the 350 passengers deplane before transporting them to hotels on busses.
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Alfrey said mechanics were working with crews to start the process of towing the plane, and once completed, the aircraft was planned for recertification for a potential rescheduled flight on Sunday.
“I want to commend our Airport team and first responders for working late into the night during this incident. Any incident on a plane is stressful and our airport team showed why they are among the best in the aviation field!” Alfrey said in the post.
A spokesperson later reached out to News 6 and said that the aircraft and passengers successfully flew out on Sunday afternoon.
