Paris-Chicago flight evacuated after tire fire

[August 06, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- About 220 passengers aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Chicago were forced to evacuate a Boeing 767 aircraft when at least one tire caught fire upon landing at O'Hare International Airport.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Quention Curtis says the passengers and 12-man crew were evacuated from the plane by emergency slide Friday.

American Airlines said it didn't yet know what caused the incident. A statement from the airline said it was working with officials of the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Curtis says it was not immediately clear how many tires caught on fire, though the right-side landing gear was aflame. He said eight people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

[Associated Press]

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