Passenger describes ‘crying and screaming’ during Southwest Airlines emergency landing after tire failure

A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight that was forced to turn around after a tire failed just after takeoff recalled the panic on the plane as travelers prepared for an emergency landing. “When the flight attendants said we were going to have an emergency landing, we started to panic a little bit. People were definitely crying and screaming and trying to console one another,” Julianna Donadio recalled to Fox 31. Southwest Airlines flight No 225 had just taken off from Denver International Airport around 6:30 p.m. on June 3 and was heading to Phoenix, Arizona, when the tire “failed,” according to the airline. The crew on board the flight remained calm as they braced for impact. “When we landed, everyone was cheering and clapping,” the woman said. In a statement, Southwest confirmed the plane “landed without incident.” “Southwest Flight 225 returned safely to Denver on Monday, June 3, after a tire failed during takeoff. Following standard Safety procedures, the Pilots declared an emergency prior to landing. The flight landed without incident and taxied off the runway. A separate aircraft operated the scheduled flight to Phoenix,” the airline said.<br/>