American Airlines 787-8 has flat tire after brake emergency at O'Hare
An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 declared an emergency landing at Chicago O'Hare on Tuesday after a dragging brake caused two flat tires, with one person hospitalized in good condition.
An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner declared an emergency at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday after reporting a dragging right brake. The incident, involving flight AA41 from Barcelona, resulted in two flat tires upon landing at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time.
The aircraft, an 11-year-old 787-8 registered as N806AA, carried 234 passengers and 11 crew members. Air traffic control audio captured the crew reporting the potential brake drag and requesting emergency crews. The brake issue caused the brakes to drag along the runway, which likely led to the tire failure. The plane stopped on the runway with the damaged tires.
First responders from the Chicago Fire Department met the aircraft out of an abundance of caution. Passengers deplaned using stairs on the tarmac and were bused to the terminal. American Airlines stated no one was injured, though the Chicago Fire Department transported one person to a local hospital in good condition. The airline has taken the aircraft out of service for inspection by its maintenance team.
A passenger described the experience. John Abbate said there was a "really big boom" when they landed. He added that it was real rough. The captain later informed passengers about the blown tires.
Pattern of tire incidents at O'Hare
This event is part of a series of tire-related incidents at Chicago O'Hare since August. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the pattern, which involves multiple carriers.
| Date | Airline | Flight | Aircraft | Incident Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 26 | American Airlines | AA3280 | Not specified | Blew two right main gear tires while taxiing for departure |
| August 21 | American Airlines | Not specified | Boeing 737-800 | Suffered a tire failure while taxiing to the gate |
| August 21 | American Airlines | Not specified | Not specified | Blew a tire after landing |
| August 17 | American Airlines | AA386 | Not specified | Experienced blown tires after landing |
| August 17 | United Airlines | UA739 | Not specified | Experienced blown tires after landing |
| August 13 | United Airlines | Not specified | Not specified | Aborted takeoff due to blown tires |
| August 13 | United Airlines | Not specified | Not specified | Blew a tire while taking off |
| August 25 | Republic Airlines | Not specified | Not specified | Reported issues with its braking gear |
Erik Baker, a professor of aviation and transportation at Lewis University, noted that tire failures are not uncommon at high-density airports like O'Hare. The Chicago Department of Aviation stated it is working with the FAA to determine the cause of these recurring issues.
The cause of Tuesday's brake issue and subsequent tire blowout on the American Airlines 787-8 remains under investigation by the FAA. The agency and the airline have confirmed the incident details while the probe continues.
