Plane tire catches fire during landing

HOUSTON, May 13 (UPI) -- No serious injuries were reported after an emergency evacuation from a Southwest Airlines plane arriving in Houston Tuesday night, officials said.

As Flight 519 touched down at Hobby Airport just before 8 p.m. CDT, a tire on its right side blew out and caught fire, Southwest Airlines spokesman Paul Flaningan said. The plane was carrying 47 passengers and a crew of five.

After those on board evacuated, using inflatable emergency chutes, firefighters made quick work of the flames and prevented them from spreading to other parts of the plane, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Adrian Trevino, a Houston Fire Department assistant chief, told the Chronicle the plane was returned to service once the tire was changed.

"There was no damage to the landing gear," he said. "It could have definitely been worse."

One passenger was taken to a hospital for treatment of an ankle injury. Another passenger, Shawn Smith, told the Chronicle, "It shook the nerves a little bit."