Emergency Slide Falls from Plane into Chicago Backyard
CHICAGO (WLS) — In a bizarre incident near Chicago O’Hare Airport, an emergency slide fell from a United Airlines Boeing 767 and landed in a backyard on Monday afternoon. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, which occurred in the 4700 block of North Chester Avenue on the city’s Northwest Side.
The discovery of the slide was made by Patrick Devitt, the homeowner, who found it in his backyard and subsequently moved it to the front. Devitt’s son and father-in-law were inside their home enjoying lunch in the kitchen when they heard a loud “boom” at around 12:15 p.m. The slide had hit the house, causing damage to the roof shingles, downspout, and a kitchen window screen.
Devitt described the fallen slide as a “very, very big piece of equipment,” larger than a small car when stretched out. After spotting the slide, Devitt’s father-in-law alerted him, and they immediately contacted 911. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived at the scene within half an hour of the call.
The FAA reported that the maintenance crew at O’Hare Airport noticed a missing emergency slide from the United Airlines Boeing 767, which had safely landed after a flight from Switzerland. The slide found in the backyard matches the one from the plane, as confirmed by two United representatives who came to retrieve it.
United spokesperson Charles Hobart stated, “We immediately contacted the FAA and are working with our team to better understand the circumstances around this matter.” While incidents involving emergency slides falling off planes are rare, this is not the first time it has occurred. Similar incidents were recorded in 2016 near Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport and in 2019 near Boston’s Logan Airport.
The investigation into how the slide detached from the plane is currently underway and being handled by the FAA. Devitt expressed his relief that no one was injured in the unusual event, stating, “I’m stunned a little bit. I’m just glad that everybody is safe and okay. Just, just seeing that in my backyard, like wow. This really happened. It fell off of an airplane and landed in our backyard.”
Authorities have not provided any further information at this time.