South Africa: Global Aviation MD82 aborts takeoff from Joburg; no casualties.

Global Aviation's MD82 "ZS-TOG"

A chartered McDonnell Douglas MD82 flight QG-112 operated by Global Aviation carrying 120 passengers and seven crew members aborted take-off at around 07h15 this morning at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport en route to Lilongwe, Malawi. It was later discovered that one of the tyres of the plane burst and was on fire, there-by prompting the abrupt aborting of the take-off sequence on runway 03L. The runway was later closed because of debris and also for further investigation.

According to the Aviation Herald:

"The aircraft was accelerating for takeoff from runway 03L about one minute after takeoff clearance when tower reported there was smoke coming from an engine. The crew rejected takeoff and came to a stop about 2400 meters/7900 feet down the runway indicating they might be able to vacate the runway, tower however instructed the aircraft to hold position on the runway while directing emergency services towards the aircraft.

The aircraft left debris behind while slowing and was subsequently seen on the runway with the left wing low and right wing high."

The precise registration of the plane is not yet known, though Global is known to operate two MD82: ZS-TOG & ZS-GAB

No injuries were reported and the fire was extinguished.