Bolivian airport closes after tire blows on Peruvian Airlines plane

The international airport in El Alto, located outside La Paz, was forced to temporarily close Thursday when a Peruvian Airlines plane blew a tire and ended up on its side, the Bolivian Airport Service (SABSA) said.

The landing strip will be closed until 3:00 pm to “comply with international regulations, standards and protocols,” SABSA said.

The aircraft experienced problems and one of its rear tires burst, and the passengers had to be evacuated by SABSA personnel, Bolivian daily Pagina Siete reported.

Photos and videos posted on social media show the airplane lying on its side on the landing strip, surrounded by the foam used to prevent fires in emergencies.

The General Aeronautics Administration held a press conference to provide details about the accident, such as the origin of the flight and the number of passengers.

The airport in El Alto, which serves the Bolivian capital, is one of the Andean nation’s main aviation facilities and is at an altitude of 4,000 meters (13,114 feet).