Emergency Evacuation Slide Falls From The Sky Onto Chicago House
An emergency evacuation slide from a United Airlines Boeing 767 took an unexpected detour and landed in a quiet Chicago neighborhood near O'Hare International Airport. Thankfully, no one was hurt during this unexpected descent, but a homeowner's roof suffered some damage in the process.
The Sky Is Falling
The incident occurred shortly after the plane had successfully touched down at O'Hare, following its journey from Switzerland. It was during routine maintenance checks that the crew discovered the missing emergency slide. Meanwhile, in a nearby neighborhood, Patrick Devitt's son and father-in-law were startled by a sudden "boom" echoing through the air, just past noon.
Investigating The Missing Slide
Upon investigating the source of the noise, they discovered the massive emergency slide sitting comfortably in their backyard. Acting swiftly, Devitt and his family carefully maneuvered the slide to the front of their property, noting the substantial size and weight of the equipment.
“When it’s all stretched out,” Devitt told the Chicago station, “it’s larger than a small car. It’s a very, very big piece of equipment that fell.”
Inspecting the damage caused by this unexpected visitor, Devitt noticed that the house's roof, downspout, and window screen had been adversely affected. However, despite the inconvenience, Devitt maintained a level-headed approach and ensured the safety of his loved ones.
FAA Takes Action
In response to this bizarre incident, United Airlines promptly reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to initiate an investigation into the matter.
“We immediately contacted the FAA and are working with our team to better understand the circumstances around this matter.”
Seeking clarity and understanding, the airline expressed its commitment to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the evacuation slide's unplanned landing in a suburban backyard.
While the details surrounding this event remain unclear, the FAA is diligently working on its investigation, striving to provide a comprehensive account of the incident.
