United flight aborts takeoff at Phoenix airport: 'Pilot slammed on the brakes,' passenger says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Phoenix Fire reported no injuries to passengers, airport officials stated. (KSAZ)
Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport officials say no one was injured when a United aircraft aborted takeoff just seconds before departure.
United Flight 1600, which was scheduled to fly from Phoenix to Newark, N.J., pulled off the runway on Friday morning after a possible issue with overheated brakes, airport officials confirmed to Fox 10.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Phoenix Fire responded, per standard procedure. Fire reported no injuries,” a spokesperson for Phoenix’s Sky Harbor said in a statement obtained by Fox News. “There is no impact to airport operations. Other flights are departing and arriving as usual.”
A passenger aboard the flight, who identifies himself as John Pentecost on Twitter, claims the plane was at “full power accelerating down the runway.” In a later tweet, he added that the pilot told passengers they were traveling at 130 miles per hour when a warning light presumably signaled the crew to abort.
“I thought for sure we’d skid off the runway. Plane sitting lopsided now… must have blown a tire,” wrote Pentecost.
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United has since released a statement blaming a "mechanical issue" for the aborted takeoff, but says the airline is working to reaccommodate passengers.
"United flight 1600 from Phoenix to Newark experienced a mechanical issue during takeoff. The aircraft returned to the gate where customers deplaned normally.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to get our customers to Newark as quickly as possible."