American Airlines Flight 41 lands at Chicago O’Hare after reported brake issue

American Airlines Flight 41 from Barcelona landed safely at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday, October 20, after its crew reported a brake issue. The Federal Aviation Administration said a tire blew after landing. Passengers left the aircraft by stairs and were bused to the terminal, while the FAA said it would investigate.

The Boeing 787-800 landed at about 2:30 p.m. local time, according to the FAA account reported by Fox News Digital. American Airlines said 234 passengers and 11 crew members were aboard. The airline took the aircraft out of service for an inspection by its maintenance team and apologized to customers.

What the crew reported before landing

First responders met the aircraft out of caution, American Airlines said, according to Fox News Digital. The airline said passengers were safely transported to the terminal by bus. ABC News reported that the airline said no injuries were reported. Passenger John Abbate described a loud boom and a rough landing in an interview with ABC.

FAA investigation and the reported tire damage

The FAA said it would investigate. The cause of the reported brake issue was not immediately clear. The Mirror attributed a possible explanation involving dragging brakes to local media, but did not establish that mechanism as the cause. The agency’s findings will matter for determining what happened to the aircraft after its crew reported the problem.

Reports also differ on how many tires were affected. The Mirror’s headline says two tires blew, while its account of the FAA statement refers to a blown tire. Fox News Digital and ABC News likewise report the FAA’s account of a blown tire. American Airlines said the aircraft would remain out of service for its maintenance inspection.