CHICAGO (WLS) — Federal officials are investigating after an American Airlines flight arriving from Barcelona experienced a tire blowout following a reported brake issue while landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration and American Airlines, Flight 41 landed safely before a tire blew out after touchdown. The Boeing 787 was carrying 234 passengers and 11 crew members.
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Passengers deplaned and were bused to the terminal, a scene that has played out at Chicago-area airports during previous tire-related incidents involving commercial aircraft.
Passenger John Abbate described the moment the plane landed.
“As soon as we landed, it was loud. It was a really big boom when we landed on the runway. It was real rough,” Abbate said.
He said the captain later informed passengers about the problem.
“And then the captain announced that there were some blown tires on the side of the plane,” Abbate said.
Air traffic control audio captured during the incident indicated the crew was aware of a potential brake problem.
“We’ve got a right brake that might be dragging. We’d like them to follow us to the gate,” a pilot said in the transmission.
Erik Baker, a professor of aviation and transportation at Lewis University, said the reported brake issue could be an important clue for investigators.
“When a locked wheel or a locked brake that locks the wheel, you’re going to blow the tire. And so, they knew about that potential. They had a brake indication. They alerted tower. They knew that was going to be the potential outcome,” Baker said.
Baker said that distinguishes this incident from several tire-related events reported at O’Hare earlier this year.
On Aug. 26, an American Airlines flight to Charlotte was delayed after two tires blew while taxiing for departure. Other tire-related incidents occurred Aug. 17 involving two aircraft, as well as another incident on Aug. 13.
The Chicago Department of Aviation told ABC7 in August that it was working with the FAA to determine the cause of those incidents.
Baker said that while the recent string of tire-related events has drawn attention, tire failures themselves are not uncommon in aviation.
“This is probably just a common thing that’s happening just because we’re flying so much and… the density of aircraft departures and landings is just so high,” Baker said.
The cause of the reported brake issue and tire blowout remains under investigation. American Airlines said the aircraft has been taken out of service for inspection.
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