American Airlines Boeing 787 experiences brake issue and tire blowout on landing at O'Hare
A Boeing 787 operating Flight 41 from Barcelona landed at Chicago O'Hare after the crew reported a possible right-brake problem; a tire subsequently burst, prompting an FAA investigation.
Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating an incident involving an American Airlines Boeing 787 that landed at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday. The aircraft, Flight 41 from Barcelona, touched down safely with 234 passengers and 11 crew members aboard, but a tire on the right side burst shortly after touchdown.
Air traffic control recordings captured a pilot reporting a potential right-brake drag and requesting guidance to the gate. The crew later informed passengers that a tire had blown.
John Abbate, a passenger on the flight, said the landing was noisy and described a loud impact when the plane touched the runway. He added that the captain announced the tire problem to the cabin.
Aviation professor Erik Baker of Lewis University explained that a locked brake can cause a wheel to overheat and fail, which aligns with the crew’s earlier brake warning. He noted that while a series of tire-related incidents have occurred at O'Hare this year, tire failures are not uncommon given the high volume of aircraft movements.
American Airlines has removed the aircraft from service for a detailed inspection, and the FAA, together with the airline, continues to examine the cause of the brake indication and subsequent tire failure.