Photo: rebius / iStock / Getty Images
On Tuesday (January 6), a LATAM Airlines Boeing 767, operating as Flight 2482, experienced a dramatic landing failure at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. All eight of the plane's rear tires burst upon touchdown. The aircraft had just completed a seven-hour journey from Lima, Peru, when the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m.
Passengers described the landing as harrowing, with some noting the unsettling sensation of the wheels "rattling on the tarmac" for an extended period. Despite the dramatic landing, all 221 passengers and crew members were unharmed. However, they were stranded on the tarmac for over two hours before being transported to the terminal by bus.
Retired Delta Captain Paul Carr, who has extensive experience flying the 767, commented on the unusual nature of the incident. He suggested that the tire blowouts were likely not caused by a hard landing but rather a malfunction in the aircraft's automatic braking system. This malfunction may have locked the wheels, generating extreme friction and causing the tires to burst, as reported by WAGA.
The landing failure led to a temporary shutdown of Runway 26R, but it did not significantly disrupt overall airport operations. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the cause of the mechanical failure. Images from the scene showed dislodged cabin panels and a bathroom door torn from its hinges, highlighting the severity of the incident.