Kinshasa, DR Congo — A Serve Air Boeing 737-300 freighter, registered 9S-AII, aborted takeoff early Tuesday after suffering a right main landing gear tyre failure at .
The aircraft was operating a cargo service from Kinshasa to when the incident occurred during the takeoff roll on Runway 06. As the aircraft accelerated, both right-hand main tyres burst, prompting the flight crew to reject the takeoff in accordance with standard procedures. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway, with both tyres reported to be shredded. No injuries were reported.
The runway was temporarily closed to allow for aircraft recovery and runway inspection due to tyre debris. Airport authorities later reopened the runway after completing safety checks.
The (BPEA) confirmed the occurrence in a statement, saying the Boeing 737-300, registered 9S-AII and operated by Serve Air, nearly experienced a runway excursion following a flat tyre on the Runway 06 side at takeoff at 05:59 UTC. After data collection, the occurrence was classified as a minor incident, and the aircraft was found to be in a navigable condition.
Authorities indicated that the aircraft did not sustain structural damage and remains airworthy following routine maintenance, including tyre replacement. The incident had no long-term impact on airport operations and highlights the effectiveness of crew decision-making and established safety procedures during high-speed ground operations.
