Federal officials are currently investigating an incident involving an American Airlines plane that experienced a tire problem during a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles. This occurrence comes just a week after a United Airlines jetliner also encountered a tire issue during takeoff.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that American Airlines flight 345 experienced a tire blowout during takeoff from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. However, American Airlines clarified that the pilots received a warning about low pressure in one of the tires.
The Boeing 777 aircraft was able to land safely and proceeded to taxi to the gate using its own power, according to American Airlines.
The specific model of the plane involved in this incident is equipped with a total of 14 tires, with six tires on each of the two main landing gear assemblies and an additional two tires under the nose landing gear. The FAA is also looking into a separate incident from the previous week, where a United Airlines Boeing 777 lost a tire during takeoff in San Francisco, prompting the flight to divert and safely land at Los Angeles International Airport.
It is worth noting that both aircraft involved in these recent tire incidents are over 20 years old, raising questions about maintenance and safety protocols for aging planes in commercial airline fleets.