A Boeing 767 operated by LATAM Airlines suffered a dramatic tyre failure upon landing at Atlanta's primary international airport on Tuesday evening, sending emergency crews scrambling and leaving passengers shaken. The incident, which involved multiple tyres blowing out and melting, caused significant disruption and forced travellers to remain onboard for over two hours.
Chaotic Scenes on the Tarmac
LATAM flight 2482 from Lima, Peru, touched down at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 7:38 pm local time, actually arriving 17 minutes ahead of schedule. However, the routine landing turned hazardous when the aircraft's rear landing gear experienced a catastrophic failure. Preliminary reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), cited by Fox Atlanta, indicate that all tyres on the rear gear blew out. NBC Atlanta reported that eight of the jet's ten tyres were believed to have failed, with some showing signs of melting due to extreme friction.
Footage from the scene showed passengers being hurried off the aircraft onto the runway as mechanics assessed the severe damage. Those onboard described a jarring, hard landing that was forceful enough to pop open overhead storage bins and even tear a bathroom door from its hinges.
Passenger Ordeal and Parental Anxiety
The 221 passengers endured a lengthy wait following the alarming incident. They were kept on the disabled aircraft for more than two hours before finally being shuttled to the international terminal. The delay had a cascading effect, with many travellers missing their connecting flights and becoming stranded.
For some families, the anxiety was particularly acute. Barbara Williams and Brandon Hagin spoke to Atlanta News First about their 15-year-old son, who was on his first solo flight, returning home from Argentina via Lima. "You assume the worst," Mr Hagin said, "so it’s nice to hear somewhat quickly the development of things." He emphasised the importance of a prompt and transparent response from authorities in such situations, though he noted information had to be sought out initially.
Fortunately, reports reviewed by Fox Atlanta confirmed that no injuries were sustained during the incident.
Ongoing Investigation and Airline Response
The precise cause of the tyre damage remains unknown and is under active investigation. LATAM Airlines Peru attributed the event to an unspecified technical fault in an official statement. "A technical incident occurred that is currently under investigation and has resulted in the aircraft remaining on the runway," the airline confirmed.
Delta Air Lines, which has a codeshare partnership with LATAM, also issued a clarification obtained by 11Alive, stressing that it was a LATAM-operated flight using their own aircraft and crew. The FAA and LATAM have been contacted for further comment as the probe continues.
