CNN

Continental plane spins after brakes lock up on landing

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) -- A Continental Airlines jet spun around and blew out four tires after its brakes locked as it tried to land at Newark International Airport late Thursday, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

The 50-seat Continental Express Embraer jet, used for regional flights, was flying from Savannah, Georgia, with at least 20 passengers and three crew members aboard, authorities said.

"The pilot reported landing was normal but the brakes locked and that's when the plane turned on the runway," said Continental spokeswoman Karla Villalon.

Sgt. William Korbul of the Port Authority of New York said he wasn't sure how many times the plane spun but that it blew four tires and couldn't be moved, forcing the airport to close the runway.

Korbul said the Federal Aviation Administration was investigating.

The passengers and crew got off the plane by stairway and were taken to a terminal by bus, officials said.

It was the second incident involving a Continental plane at the Newark airport Thursday. Earlier in the day, a Continental jetliner nearly landed on a closed runway.

The Boeing 757 with 125 passengers and seven crew members came within 10 feet of landing before the pilot, alerted by an air traffic controller, pulled up and flew around to land on the correct runway. No one was injured, and the incident is under investigation.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), August 26, 2000