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Flyers at McAllen International Airport reported that a two-hour ramp closure was in effect there due to a “serious situation.”
The situation involved a downed aircraft that needed to be cleared from the runway before returning to normal operations around 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
One of the flyers, Berenice Garcia of McAllen, said the airport communicated to patrons Saturday morning that all inbound operations were diverted to Valley International Airport in Harlingen during that time.
She also said that airport staff communicated with each other that an aircraft lost communication with the tower just prior to their announcement over the intercom about the ramp closure.
“They just told us it’s a complete shutdown of the airport with no planes received or leaving here,” she said.
Garcia said airport staff also communicated that “it seems like it’s a pretty serious situation and are awaiting more details from authorities including city law enforcement.”
On Saturday, police Chief Victor Rodriguez said the issue centered around a single-engine aircraft that “lost a tire while taxiing,” but that there were no reports of injuries.
Aircraft taxiing is the process in which an airplane moves on the ground using its own power in order to clear the runway for use.
The city said in a statement that the issue was due to “a mechanical malfunction while taking off at McAllen International Airport.”
“Incoming flights were temporarily diverted while McAllen International Airport crews were on scene working diligently to clear the runway,” the city said in the statement. “No injuries were reported and normal operations have resumed.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the full version.
