A routine landing at Coastal Carolina Airport in Craven County took an unexpected turn when a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet experienced a blown tire on the runway, causing temporary disruptions to air traffic.
The incident, which occurred on Sept. 12, involved a Harrier jet from Cherry Point Air Station. According to airport manager Andrew Shorter, the jet’s tire on the landing gear at the nose of the aircraft blew out during the landing process.
Due to the size of the disabled jet, it was unable to be moved from the runway without assistance. The airport’s operations were temporarily halted while personnel from Cherry Point Air Station rushed to the scene with a replacement tire.
As a result of the runway closure, Coastal Carolina Airport had to delay or divert two scheduled arrivals and two departures on Tuesday afternoon. One of the affected flights was diverted to Jacksonville, while another was held in Charlotte until the situation was resolved.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the incident did not cause any known damage to the aircraft aside from the blown tire. The quick response from Cherry Point Air Station personnel ensured that the disabled Harrier jet received a new tire promptly, allowing the runway to be reopened for regular operations.
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