Everything went by the book. By chance I was tuned to Glasgow Radar when the Air Malta flight called in on possible partial loss of hydraulic power just after t/o and called for a return once weight was down, report passed from tower that ‘white mist’ seen trailing from the aircraft on departure. A couple of minutes later a runway inspection found tyre debris.
Radar offered a route to dump fuel, but aircraft said there was no facility for dumping fuel, and would have to burn it off. The incident was then raised to a pan. Helicopters from PIK and Strathclyde Police arrived at GLA. Aircraft given a holding pattern to the west, and at 20:45bst a low pass for inspection reported main left inner burst; returned to hold.
Landed at 22:30 after a 12 mile approach on ILS, stopped on runway and passengers disembarked via steps. Everything by the book with minimum fuss. Well done pilots and ATC.
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