TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Passengers evacuated a plane leaving Tampa Monday after a blown tire caused a fire.

The ordeal occurred on the westernmost north-south runway at Tampa International Airport. The plane took off around 3:30 p.m., but was quickly stopped. United flight 1948 sat motionless, with smoke billowing from the landing gear.

“It was scary. Scary. Happened too quick,” passenger Carlos Lotero said.

Lotero’s Memorial Day weekend ended with a bang. “We heard the explosion. It happened so, we heard like, ‘Boom.’ Ya know? Everybody was like, everybody was screaming a little bit. There was a lot of kids in the aircraft,” Lotero told News Channel 8.

Passengers said the plane seemed to fishtail as the pilot brought it to a halt. Instead of going airborne, passengers felt a strong braking sensation.

“People were kind of antsy for the first like minute or so. Then the captain came on and let us know what was going on. It was pretty low key,” a passenger named Austin said.

Passengers watched as crews put out a fire on the tire, possibly ignited by heavy braking. Foam sprayed onto the wings and windows.

“It got kind of violent, kind of went sideways a little bit, and hit the brakes, and it was very scary, I thought” Phillip Arellano said.

A bus brought the 131 passengers back to the terminal, and long lines cued up at the United counter.

“We’re all losing our flights, and nobody wants to compensate,” Mary Lewis said.

A few moments of fright has now turned into a wait. “I was scared, and, ya know, we have a dance recital tomorrow, dance practice tomorrow ,and we’re just like oh my gosh, ‘We’re never gonna.’ I just wanted to get home,” Sarah Arellano said.

United sent News Channel 8 the following statement:

“Flight 1948 from Tampa to Houston today experienced a blown tire prior to take off. There were no injuries. Passengers deplaned via air stairs and were transported by bus to the terminal where we are working as quickly as possible to get them on their way to Houston this evening. We will substitute another aircraft to operate the flight which is now scheduled to depart Tampa at 10 p.m.”

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