Federal Aviation Administration officials are looking into two separate tire incidents involving commercial aircraft at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Monday, after both planes reported problems within hours of each other. The cases add to a recent run of tire-related issues involving passenger jets at Chicago-area airports.
American Airlines Flight 386 was the first incident reported. Its crew told officials that two tires had blown after the aircraft landed safely at O’Hare at about 2 p.m. Monday, the FAA said in a statement provided to News Outlet.
The Boeing 737-800 had arrived from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. After landing, passengers left the aircraft by stairs and were taken by bus to the terminal, according to the FAA.
In a statement to News Outlet, American Airlines referred to the situation as a “tire issue” and said emergency responders met the plane as a precautionary measure.
“American Airlines flight 386 experienced a tire issue after landing safely at Chicago (ORD). Per procedure, first responders met the aircraft out of an abundance of caution and customers were transported safely to the terminal by bus,” the statement read. “The aircraft has been taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and we apologize to our customers for their experience.”
The FAA noted that the details released so far are preliminary and could change as its investigation moves forward.
A little more than three hours later, another tire problem was reported at O’Hare. The crew of United Airlines Flight 739 notified officials of a blown tire after the plane landed safely around 5:15 p.m., the FAA said.
United Airlines confirmed to News Outlet that the Airbus A320 was flying from Omaha, Nebraska, to Chicago with 121 passengers and five crew members on board.
A United Airlines plane is seen in flight in a file photo.
“After arriving at Chicago O’Hare, United flight 739 sustained tire damage. Customers deplaned via airstairs and buses took them back to the terminal,” a spokesperson for the airline said.
United said there were no reported injuries.
The FAA said it will also investigate the United incident and cautioned that its information was preliminary and subject to change.
The incidents add to a recent series of tire problems involving commercial flights in Chicago.
Less than a week earlier, another United Airlines plane reportedly suffered blown tires and aborted a takeoff at O’Hare.
Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines Flight 1243 blew a tire after landing at Chicago Midway International Airport at about 6:45 a.m. on Aug. 3, according to the FAA.
The Southwest Boeing 737 had departed from Southwest Florida International Airport. The FAA also opened an investigation into that incident.
No injuries were reported in the Midway incident.
Monday’s incidents occurred during a busy summer travel season at O’Hare. The FAA said earlier this year that more than 3,080 flights were planned at the airport on peak days during the summer 2026 travel season, a 14.9% increase from the previous summer’s peak-day schedule.
The agency subsequently imposed limits on scheduled operations at O’Hare in an effort to reduce delays and manage operational constraints at the airport.
Travelers at O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
News Outlet also reached out to the Chicago Department of Aviation for additional information about Monday’s incidents and any impact on airport operations.
