Boeing plane with 249 people onboard forced into emergency landing after 'mechanical problem' in latest worrying incident

The emergency landing in Los Angeles on Wednesday was the latest in a string of Boeing safety issues in recent weeks
An American Airlines Boeing 777 plane takes off from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris
An American Airlines Boeing 777 carrying 249 people was forced to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles
REUTERS
Matt Watts14 March 2024

An American Airlines Boeing 777 carrying 249 people was forced to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles after a “mechanical problem’.

The incident on Wednesday was the latest in a string of apparent Boeing safety issues in recent weeks.

The jet had left Dallas, Texas before it was forced to touch down at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) just hours later.

A “mechanical problem” saw one of its tyres “blow”, forcing pilots to declare an emergency, CBS News reported.

Flight AA 345 made the emergency landing in Los Angeles around 8.45pm local time Wednesday.

It taxied along the runway and all passengers and crew onboard were able to disembark using a jet bridge, according to reports.

“The aircraft taxied to the gate under its own power and customers deplaned normally”, American Airlines said in a statement.

Boeing deferred to American Airlines for information. It has been contacted for comment.

The incident comes after a United Airlines Boeing 777 en route to Japan from San Francisco was earlier this week forced into an emergency landing at LAX when it lost a tire.

A United Airlines Boeing 777 en route to Japan from San Francisco was forced into an emergency landing at LAX when it lost a tire.
AP
A damaged car is seen in an on-airport employee car park after tire debris from a Boeing 777 landed on it at San Francisco International Airport
AP

A few days before that, another Boeing jet was forced to make an emergency landing at the same airport after taking off from San Francisco due to apparent hydraulic issues.

While at least 50 people were injured on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying from Australia to New Zealand when LATAM Airlnes said a “technical event during the flight caused a strong movement”.

The company has come under increased scrutiny since a panel blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

The Federal Aviation Administration later grounded a fleet of Boeing 737s with all airlines so inspections could take place.

While in February a report for the US government raised serious concerns about Boeing’s safety management systems, adding to the scrutiny facing the US plane maker.

The review found a “disconnect” between senior management and regular staff, and signs that safety-related messages and behaviours were not effectively implemented across the company.

The report was ordered after crashes involving Boeing planes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing pledged to review the findings.

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