The tyre of an American Airlines plane exploded just seconds before the aircraft was due to take off. 

The Boeing 737 was travelling at high speed down the runway of Tampa International Airport in Florida when it suffered a mechanical issue. 

The aircraft’s right-hand tyre exploded as it geared up to take off and quickly caught fire. 

Video of the attempted takeoff shows grey smoke and sparks emerging from the side of the plane, leaving a trail of rubber debris across the runway. 

There were 174 passengers and six crew members on board the flight, which was headed to Phoenix, Arizona, an American Airlines spokesman said, adding that none were injured in the incident. 

The mishap on Wednesday morning comes two days after the wheel of another Boeing plane fell off when travelling down a runway in Los Angeles.