Garuda flight lands safely in Makassar after tire blowout

A Garuda Indonesia aircraft, flight GA604, carrying 149 passengers and eight crew members, touched down safely at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, Indonesia, on Thursday morning. The Boeing 737-800, registered PK-GFS, had departed earlier from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.

According to Lukman F Laisa, director general of Civil Aviation at Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation, the incident occurred when a tyre on the number three main wheel burst during the flight. Following the landing, the aircraft was towed from the runway to the parking area for a comprehensive inspection and repair, which included replacing the damaged main wheel.

Initial assessments confirmed that all 141 passengers and eight crew members aboard the plane were unharmed. The ministry's statement emphasized that flight safety and security remained the utmost priorities for Indonesia's aviation authorities, who are continuing to work closely with technical teams to conduct further inspections and ensure the continued safe operation of the aircraft.