Thu, Apr 1 02:32 PM

Australian carrier Qantas Airways Ltd said on Thursday it was investigating why an A380 superjumbo aircraft burst two tyres while landing at Sydney Airport on Wednesday.

The aircraft from Singapore with 244 people aboard blew two tyres when it landed about 8.20 p.m. (0920 GMT), sending showers of sparks and flames flying from its undercarriage.

No passengers were at risk at any point, Qantas said.

“It was not an emergency landing,” said a spokeswoman.

It was the first time a Qantas A380 suffered a tyre blowout since the airline first took delivery of the aircraft in 2008. Qantas has six A380s, which are used on routes to London, Singapore and the United States.

The incident was the second mechanical mishap on a Qantas aircraft in two days. A Qantas Boeing 747 bound for Singapore on Tuesday returned to Sydney shortly after takeoff when the pilot discovered a problem with an engine.

(Reporting by Michael Perry; Editing by Ron Popeski)