An American Airlines flight experienced a blown tire while landing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft, Flight 41 arriving from Barcelona, had safely touched down.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the event, stating that the flight crew initially reported a brake issue that was followed by a blown tire. Air traffic control audio revealed the pilot communicating a concern about a "right brake that might be dragging" before the tire issue became apparent. The pilots subsequently declared an emergency and brought the Boeing 787-800 to a halt on the runway.

There were 234 passengers and 11 crew members on board the aircraft. Following the incident, passengers were deplaned using stairs directly onto the tarmac and were then transported to the terminal via bus. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among those on board, according to the airline.

The FAA has announced it will be investigating the incident. American Airlines stated that the affected aircraft has been removed from service for inspection by its maintenance team. The airline also expressed gratitude for its staff's professionalism and apologized to customers for the inconvenience.

One passenger described hearing a "really big boom" upon landing, followed by a rough landing experience. The passenger noted that the aircraft stopped at the end of the runway, and confusion arose until the captain announced the blown tires on the port side of the plane.

This incident follows a separate event where an American Airlines flight blew two tires upon landing at the same airport. Details of that prior incident were not provided in the source material beyond its mention.

The grounding of the Boeing 787-800 for inspection means it will be temporarily unavailable for service. The airline's statement emphasized their commitment to safety and customer experience.

Investigations by the FAA are standard procedure for such events, aiming to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences. The outcome of this investigation could lead to revised maintenance protocols or operational procedures for American Airlines.