An American Airlines flight bound for Boston made a quick and unwelcome return to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday after the crew reported an engine problem, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight AA2952 landed safely back at ORD around 12:40 p.m., and the FAA said it has opened an investigation into what went wrong.
According to NBC Chicago, the flight had been scheduled to depart O'Hare for Boston Logan International Airport before the crew reported trouble and opted to turn back. American Airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the outlet reported.
Flight Tracking Shows Sudden Turnback
Live flight data show AA2952 climbing out of Chicago, then turning back toward the airport just minutes after takeoff. Flightradar24 lists the aircraft operating Tuesday's flight as registration N9006 and records the diversion back to O'Hare instead of the planned trip to Boston.
Crew Reported Engine Trouble
Aviation-focused outlets and social media posts reported that the crew declared a mayday and reported an engine failure during the climb. The Aviation Hub compiled live updates and user posts that circulated online as the situation unfolded, though those materials have not been independently verified by federal authorities.
What Investigators Will Look At
The FAA said the incident is under investigation, and depending on what officials find, the National Transportation Safety Board could decide to open its own inquiry and send a "go-team" to gather evidence. NTSB media resources outline the agency's on-scene procedures, which can include reviewing flight recorders, combing through maintenance logs, and analyzing air-traffic control recordings.
Local Context
The return to O'Hare follows another recent mechanical scare involving the airline. On May 13, a separate American Airlines flight that landed at O'Hare reportedly experienced flat tires, an episode that has kept mechanical issues in the spotlight at U.S. airports this month. CBS Chicago reported on that earlier event, though investigators evaluate each occurrence on its own merits.
Passengers on AA2952 were deplaned after the turnback, and the aircraft was taken for inspection, according to flight tracking updates and social media accounts. NBC Chicago notes that the FAA is investigating, and authorities have not yet released additional details about the incident.
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