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ShareBOGOR/INDONESIA: Air Force One had six tyres go flat on landing in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday night due to a malfunction of the aircraft's automatic braking system, White House officials said on Monday.
The problem forced the plane's mechanics to scramble to find replacement tyres, nearly forcing US President George W Bush to fly to Indonesia in a back-up aircraft.
Officials said a malfunction in the aircraft's automatic braking system generated sufficient heat to activate a safety feature that blows out tyre valves.
The feature is designed to avoid a full tyre blowout. Six tyres lost their valves, resulting in six flat tyres.
Bush wrapped up a week-long tour of Asia with a stop in Indonesia on Monday, having flown there on board Air Force One from Ho Chi Minh City.
