Mexican passenger jet blows 2 tires, lands safely

updated 3:46 p.m. ET July 3, 2009

MEXICO CITY - A domestic passenger jet landed safely at the Mexico City airport Thursday despite blowing two tires on its landing gear as it touched down.

Airport spokesman Victor Mejia said the plane came close to running off the landing strip but was able to move onto a taxi-way under control. None of the 48 passengers or five crew members on board the Boeing 737 were injured.

The Aviacsa airlines flight originated in the southern city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, bound for the capital.

The government briefly grounded Aviacsa in June over safety concerns, citing issues such as insufficient staff to inspect planes, but the airline quickly won a court injunction allowing it to fly again.

The Communications and Transportation Department said in a statement that the plane involved in Thursday's incident was one of 25 Aviacsa aircraft cited in the shutdown order.

A listing on the Web site Airframes.org for the plane's registration code, XA-UCG, indicates the plane was built in 1982.

Phone calls to Aviacsa's offices at the airport went unanswered Thursday night.

Don't miss these Travel stories from msnbc.com FAA investigating Southwest Airlines repairs Getting around the Games without going crazy Tips for maximizing happy travel coincidences Body found in landing gear of N.Y.-Tokyo flight Readers’ travel photos from around the world

MORE FROM NEWS

News Section Front

DOT: Delta, US Airways can swap slots Coca-Cola to be served on Alaska Air flights   Fresh blizzard pummels East Coast American to charge $8 for blankets, pillows 2nd German traveler camps out in Brazil airport Newark airport breach suspect pleads not guilty Body found in landing gear of N.Y.-Tokyo flight Airport terminal evacuated after security breach Faulty elevator to blame for Dubai tower closure Lost in New Zealand, man texts Greece, rescued News Section Front   Add News headlines to your news reader: