United flight back at Dulles safely

UPDATED, 9:18 p.m.

A jetliner headed from Dulles International Airport to Brussels returned safely to Dulles on Saturday night after blowing one of its tires, authorities said. An airport spokesman said a missing section of runway pavement may have caused the tire damage.

United Airlines flight 950, a Boeing 767, landed at Dulles about 8:30 p.m, an airline spokeswoman said.

The plane took off around 6 p.m. but debris was discovered on the runway shortly afterward, and the airline was notified, said airport spokesman Rob Yingling. He said the section of missing pavement was spotted after the debris was found. The runway was closed while short-term repairs were made, Yingling said.

He said a “strong possibility” existed of a link between the blown tire and the pavement damage.
Authorities said the plane burned off or jettisoned fuel to reduce its weight before landing.

United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said it carried 176 passengers and 11 crew members.

--Martin Weil