TIRESOME

American Airlines Jet Blows Tires in Alarming Airport Trend

Passengers heard an extremely loud popping noise as the plane prepared for takeoff.

An American Airlines plane blew two tires while taxiing before takeoff—the fourth jet to suffer a similar issue at the same airport in two weeks. Passengers on board American Airlines flight 3280 were preparing to leave ​Chicago ​O’Hare ​International Airport when they heard a strange noise. “It was extremely loud,” passenger Lataisa Williams told CNN. “Everybody heard the tires pop… it all happened so quick.” Passengers were ferried back to the terminal while awaiting a replacement for the 13-year-old Boeing plane. They took off for Charlotte, North Carolina, about two hours later. “Shortly after ​pushing back ​from ​the gate ​at ​Chicago ​O’Hare ​International Airport ​(ORD), American Airlines flight 3280 experienced a tire ​issue on ​the taxiway,” American Airlines said in a statement. “Customers safely returned to the ​terminal ​and ​will ​re-depart shortly ​on ​a ​replacement aircraft.” The plane is the fourth to suffer tire issues at the airport in two weeks. Another American Airlines plane burst two tires landing at the airport last Monday, and a United Airlines plane’s tires were also damaged on landing that day. The week before, a flight bound for Phoenix aborted its takeoff after a tire burst while taxiing, CBS News reported.

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