Tire fire forces plane's emergency evacuation

Source: Agencies  |   2009-5-13  |     ONLINE EDITION

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PASSENGERS on a Southwest Airlines flight were forced to slide down emergency chutes after a tire caught fire as the plane landed in Houston.

Southwest Airlines spokesman Paul Flaningan says no one was injured.

Flaningan says the tire blew around 7:50pm yesterday as Flight 519 from New Orleans landed at Houston Hobby Airport.

He says the fire was contained to the tire.

Television footage showed passengers deplaning via emergency chutes.

Flaningan says there were five crew members and 47 passengers on board.

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