Frightening
Dramatic Landing in Atlanta: All Tires Burst on LATAM Passenger Jet Upon Touchdown | WATCH
One airport worker shared on social media: "We heard heavy bangs and saw a lot of smoke." A passenger described the ordeal as particularly unsettling, noting that the wheels vibrated violently on the runway for an unusually long time during deceleration.
Emergency teams rushed to a runway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after a LATAM Airlines Boeing 767 passenger jet experienced a harrowing landing where all eight tires exploded on impact, causing intense shaking and smoke but no injuries.
The incident involved LATAM Flight 2482, which had just completed a roughly seven-hour journey from Lima, Peru, landing in Atlanta on Wednesday evening.
According to aviation experts cited by Fox News, the unusual event may have been caused by a malfunction in the aircraft's automatic braking system. Ground crew and passengers reported hearing several loud explosions upon touchdown, followed by thick smoke rising from the wheels. Photos from the scene showed significant interior disruption, including dislodged panels and a bathroom door ripped from its hinges.
Despite the chaos, all 221 passengers remained unharmed. They stayed on the tarmac for about two hours before being evacuated to the terminal via buses. The runway was temporarily closed, but airport operations continued with minimal disruption.