An American Airlines flight from Miami to Chicago made a rough arrival at O’Hare overnight after the crew reported flat tires on landing, triggering a major emergency response and forcing passengers to deplane on the runway. Travelers were taken off the aircraft using portable stairs, then shuttled by bus to the terminal, and there were no reports of any injuries.
Runway response and deplaning
According to ABC7 Chicago, video from the scene shows the American Airlines jet sitting on a runway after allegedly touching down with two flat tires. Passengers told the station they exited via a portable staircase set up beside the aircraft, then boarded a shuttle bus that took them to the terminal. ABC7 reported it had reached out to American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration for additional details.
Flight details
The flight involved was AA791, the Miami to Chicago O’Hare service that night, according to local reporting and flight records. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows AA791’s May 13 rotation operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, with tail number N341SV listed for the trip.
What federal rules say
Under federal criteria, damage limited to landing gear, wheels or tires does not count as “substantial damage” for purposes of triggering a National Transportation Safety Board accident investigation. As outlined in NTSB guidance, incidents involving blown or flat tires typically remain in the hands of the airline and airport operations unless there are serious injuries or other qualifying factors.
Next steps for crew and travelers
After any landing that involves tire problems, airline maintenance teams and airport rescue and firefighting crews usually inspect the aircraft, clear and secure the runway, and arrange to tow or otherwise recover the jet. Those standard procedures can briefly disrupt traffic at a busy hub like O’Hare, according to FAA guidance. ABC7 reported it had contacted American Airlines and the FAA seeking comment on the incident.
