United Airlines had a rough day at Newark Airport yesterday, as a plane’s tires blew out, sending it veering off the runway, while an employee suffered serious injuries in an unrelated tarmac incident.
A United Express flight was carrying 11 people from Rochester when four tires blew on landing at 8:22 p.m., causing the jet to loose control and careen onto a taxiway.
The Embrear 145 came dangerously close to hitting an FAA navigation building.
“The incident was almost a disaster,” according to a law-enforcement official.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene to aid passengers and crew. There were no injuries.
Hours earlier, a United worker suffered non-life-threatening injuries when a cart loaded with luggage pinned him against a food-service truck, officials said.
The unidentified man was driving on the tarmac when the luggage carrier smashed into him and pushed him into toward the truck, a Port Authority spokesman said.
Co-workers rushed to his aid and he was transported to a local hospital, officials said.
Airport authorities said that an investigation into what exactly happened is under way.