FAA issues ground stop after airplane fire at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport
Oct 28, 2016, 1:02 PM | Updated: 2:33 pm
(Twitter Photo/@MikeSilver)
(Twitter Photo/@MikeSilver)
A ground stop was issued Friday after a plane caught on fire on a runway at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Delays were expected because of the fire.
✈ Traffic Alert: Runway Closed @fly2ohare (ORD) due to disabled aircraft – Expect Delays – check w/your airline for updated flight status.
— The FAA (@FAANews) October 28, 2016
It was reported that the plane, American Airlines flight 383 to Miami, blew a tire which sparked the fire.
American Airlines flight 383, a Boeing 767, was departing O’Hare to Miami when aircraft blew a tire; pilots aborted takeoff, FAA tells @ABC.
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) October 28, 2016
The blaze was visible to passengers both on the tarmac and in the terminal.
Fire at Chicago Ohare airport. Not a drill. We could see passengers exiting the plane #Chicago #fire pic.twitter.com/viYHSJwkc1
— Gabby Bangert (@deergirll) October 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Donnahdanoosh/status/792091608451690496
— Sean Gumin (@sgumin) October 28, 2016
The fire was rumored to be a training exercise, especially given a tweet sent by an account that appeared to be affiliated with the airport.
Don't be alarmed! The Chicago Fire Department at O'Hare is doing practice fires today on the airfield fire pit! @fly2ohare @Chicago_Scanner pic.twitter.com/Qfgr5RyMOI
— ORD Airport Insider (@ORDInsider) October 28, 2016
That account later clarified that it was in fact an unrelated emergency situation, as confirmed by the Chicago Fire Department.
https://twitter.com/CFDMedia/status/792088812784611329
Passengers were seen exiting the plane. Seven passengers and a flight attendant reported minor injuries. American Airlines spokeswoman Leslie Scott said the injured were taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
The 161 passengers and nine crew members were evacuated and buses took them to an airport terminal. Scott said the passengers will be placed on another flight to Miami this evening.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway said the board will conduct an investigation into the incident, with investigators expected to arrive on the scene Friday evening.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
