A Cessna 172 aircraft registered TI-BHC from Aerobell Flight School landed with damage at Tobías Bolaños International Airport in Pavas on Wednesday morning after it lost power and its left landing gear tire exploded. The incident happened around 6:45 a.m. The plane took off from runway 10 for what appeared to be a training flight. It reported a loss of power and returned to land on runway 28. The aircraft rolled to a stop at the end of the runway with the left tire burst.
A student pilot and the instructor Sebastián Astorga sat on board. Both exited the plane without injuries. Medical teams checked them right at the scene and cleared them on the spot. No one went to the hospital. Airport staff declared Alert 4A immediately. This emergency code brings full response teams for any aircraft issue inside the airport perimeter. Firefighters from the Cuerpo de Bomberos reached the site fast. They examined the plane, secured the area, and stayed to make sure no risks remained.
Tobías Bolaños International Airport operates as San José’s secondary facility. It manages domestic routes, charter flights, and flight training for schools such as Aerobell. The airport sits in the Pavas district and supports a steady flow of general aviation traffic every day. The event did not affect other flights. Crews kept the runway clear and operations resumed normally after the assessment. The plane itself shows damage limited to the landing gear.
Aviation authorities started their review of the flight. They have not shared details on what caused the power loss or the tire failure. Fire teams and airport staff focused on safety from the first alert. Their fast actions kept the situation under control and protected everyone at the site.
This marks the latest incident at the busy training airport, where crews train new pilots daily. Officials continue to collect information and will update as the review moves forward. The two people on board returned home safe after the checks.
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