In a startling event at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, an American Airlines flight experienced a rare mishap when a cargo container was drawn into its right engine while taxiing. Flight 47, arriving from London Heathrow, faced the incident on Taxiway Bravo shortly after landing at around 3 p.m.
The ingestion resulted in significant damage to the engine, though fortunately, no injuries were reported. Emergency crews swiftly responded, and the aircraft was towed to Terminal 5, where passengers and crew disembarked without further incident.
The container involved was an AKE ULD (Unit Load Device), commonly used for luggage or cargo transport. The precise cause of the ingestion remains unclear. However, a passenger recounted that the crew mentioned another vehicle maneuvering between the American Airlines flight and a nearby aircraft, resulting in a jet blast that displaced several containers. One such container was unfortunately ingested.
Aviation watchdog JonNYC identified the nearby aircraft as Air France Flight 136, which was also taxiing at the time.
Thankfully, the container was empty, averting a potentially more severe outcome. The incident led to moderate service disruptions.
An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed the aircraft is now out of service. “After safely landing at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), American Airlines flight 47, with service from London-Heathrow (LHR), reported damage to its engine while taxiing to the gate at ORD,” they stated. “The aircraft has been taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. Safety is our top priority, and we thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.”
Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Chicago Department of Aviation are investigating the incident.