Arajet Boeing 737 MAX 8 Suffers Double Tyre Burst at Punta Cana

An Arajet Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating a scheduled commercial flight from the United States sustained damage to its landing gear tyres upon touchdown in the Dominican Republic on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Flight DM5101 from Miami International Airport touched down on runway 08 at Punta Cana International Airport when both left-hand main landing gear tyres burst. The aircraft became disabled on the runway pavement, prompting emergency ground responses and a multi-hour suspension of flight operations at the Caribbean hub.

Airport authorities confirmed that all passengers and crew members on board the aircraft were unhurt. Emergency vehicles met the aircraft immediately following the rollout, and ground personnel safely disembarked the passengers directly from the runway.

Landing Incident and Runway Disruption

The incident occurred during routine afternoon operations under clear meteorological conditions. According to flight tracking data and initial reports, the Boeing 737-8 MAX, registered HI1142, made a standard approach to Punta Cana's runway 08. Upon touchdown, both tyres fitted to the left main gear assembly suffered structural failures and deflated, leaving the twin-engine jet unable to clear the active landing strip under its own engine power.

The disabled airliner created severe operational challenges for Punta Cana International Airport. At the time of the event, the airport's secondary runway was closed for scheduled maintenance work and surface repaving. With the primary runway blocked by the stranded Boeing aircraft, airport management issued a temporary ground stop and suspended all departure and arrival movements. Several inbound international flights were instructed to enter holding patterns or divert to Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo before maintenance teams could tow the disabled airliner off the active surface.

Fleet Operations and Technical Response

Arajet issued a statement confirming that flight DM5101 from Miami had encountered a tyre-related issue upon landing and affirmed that its flight crew strictly adhered to established standard operating procedures. The carrier highlighted that passenger welfare and operational safety remained paramount, stating that technical personnel were immediately dispatched to inspect the landing gear assembly, brakes, and surrounding wheel well structures.

The aircraft involved, HI1142, is a factory-fresh Boeing 737 MAX 8 delivered to the low-cost carrier as part of its ongoing fleet expansion program across the Americas. Following the removal of the aircraft from the active runway, airline mechanics initiated detailed non-destructive evaluations to determine whether high-speed tyre fragmentation caused secondary impact damage to the flap surfaces, hydraulic lines, or brake units. Maintenance crews fitted replacement wheel and tyre assemblies before positioning the aircraft to a maintenance hangar.

Investigation and Safety Oversight

The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) alongside the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) launched formal safety inquiries into the circumstance of the double tyre burst. Aviation investigators are reviewing digital flight data recorder information, braking telemetry, touchdown speed, and runway friction conditions to identify the primary failure mechanism.

Investigators will examine whether the rapid deflation stemmed from foreign object debris on the runway surface, an antiskid braking anomaly, thermal fuse plug activation, or internal carcass fatigue. Runway operations at Punta Cana resumed later that evening after airport ground operations conducted comprehensive sweep inspections to remove rubber debris and metal fragments, ensuring the runway surface met international safety standards before regular airline traffic resumed.