FAA Investigates Rare Incident: Emergency Slide Falls from Landing United Airlines Jet in Chicago

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting an investigation into an unusual event involving an emergency slide falling from a United Airlines Boeing 767 that had just landed safely at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on July 17, 2023. The slide, designed to aid passengers during aircraft evacuations, landed in a residential area, prompting local police to respond. The incident came to the FAA’s attention when maintenance workers at ORD discovered the slide missing from the aircraft, which had arrived from Zurich Airport (ZRH). United Airlines confirmed that the 24-year-old jet had 155 passengers and 10 crew members on board during its nine-hour journey from Europe. Security camera footage captured the moment the emergency slide descended to the ground after the aircraft had passed by. The airline is closely cooperating with authorities to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.