Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Dallas
Jul. 25, 2011
American Airlines Flight 963 to Sao Paolo, Brazil was forced to turn around Sunday night shortly after takeoff, eight miles east of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
A problem with one of the two engines and a landing gear fire on the Boeing 777 led the pilots to dump the jet's fuel and return to Dallas where it made an emergency landing, according to airport officials.
Witness on the ground reported the plane to be flying at an unusually low altitude with streams of jet fuel exiting both wings, according to ABC News Dallas affiliate WFAA-TV. Dumping fuel is a common pre-emergency landing proceedure performed to prevent the risk of an explosion in the event of a crash landing.
Upon touching down on the runway, the brakes locked up and a tire blew out.
All 264 passengers and 14 crew members were unharmed and bused back to the terminal.