Operations at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), the busiest travel hub in the country, were temporarily shut down on Thursday evening after a commercial passenger jet blew a tire upon landing and became stuck right in the middle of the tarmac. While the disabled plane has since been cleared, the sudden runway closure triggered a wave of flight diversions, 2 to 4-hour delays, and stranded passengers that were still rippling through the airport on Friday morning.
What Happened On The Runway
The incident happened just after 5:05 PM on Thursday, November 12, when Arajet Flight DM 5101 touched down in Punta Cana after a routine short-haul flight from Miami International Airport.
During the landing roll, one of the tires on the aircraft malfunctioned. Following standard safety procedures, the pilots brought the plane to a complete stop directly on the active runway rather than attempting to taxi to the gate on damaged landing gear.
Fortunately, the landing was handled smoothly and there was zero panic onboard. Arajet released an official statement confirming that 100 percent of the passengers and crew members were completely unharmed and safely deplaned while ground crews moved in to inspect the jet.
Why One Flat Tire Shut Down The Entire Airport
Normally, a single plane stopping on a runway at a major international hub like Punta Cana would only cause minor slowdowns, as air traffic controllers can simply shift incoming and outgoing flights over to a backup runway.
However, timing worked against travelers on Thursday night. Punta Cana International Airport normally operates 2 runways, but the 2nd runway is currently closed and out of service for scheduled repair and maintenance work.
Because the Arajet jet came to a stop on the only operational runway at the entire airport, authorities at the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation had zero choice but to immediately suspend all takeoffs and landings. Ground crews not only had to tow the disabled aircraft off the tarmac, but safety inspectors also had to walk the entire length of the strip to make sure 0 rubber debris or metal fragments were left behind that could damage the next plane.
Diverted Flights And Friday Morning Ripple Effects
Shutting down the busiest tourist airport in the Caribbean during the late-afternoon rush created an immediate bottleneck in the skies and inside the thatched-roof terminals.
At least 5 incoming commercial flights that were already in the air and approaching Punta Cana had to be diverted mid-flight to Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, located roughly 2 hours away by highway. Back at Punta Cana, dozens of departing evening flights were grounded on the tarmac for 2 to 4 hours while the runway was cleared.
By Friday morning, November 13, several international passengers, including a large group of travelers scheduled to fly back to Mendoza, Argentina, on the affected Arajet aircraft, reported being stranded inside the terminal for more than 12 hours while waiting for replacement planes and updated schedules.
What Travelers Need To Do Today
While the runway at Punta Cana International Airport is back open and flights are landing and taking off again today make sure to check departures before heading to the airport.
If you are flying to or from Punta Cana over the next 24 hours, take 3 quick steps to protect your trip:
- Check Your Airline App Before Leaving Your Resort: Do not rely on the flight time printed on your original booking confirmation. Check your airline’s mobile app or live flight tracker before you check out of your hotel to make sure your inbound aircraft was not delayed or repositioned last night.
- Watch Your Connection Windows: If you are flying out of Punta Cana today with a tight 60 to 90-minute connecting layover in Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, or New York, even a 45-minute single-runway bottleneck on the tarmac could cause you to miss your connection. Talk to a gate agent early if your departure gets pushed back.
- Pack Essentials In Your Personal Item: Whenever an airport is recovering from a ground stop, baggage handling crews get backed up too. Keep your resort swimwear, sunglasses, phone charger, and any daily medications in your carry-on bag so you can still hit the pool immediately even if your checked suitcase takes an extra hour to hit the carousel.
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