At a Glance
- A LATAM Boeing 767 from Peru blew every rear tire after landing in Atlanta on Jan 6
- Emergency crews rushed to the runway; no injuries were reported
- Passengers remained stranded on the tarmac for hours
- Why it matters: The rare blow-out of all rear landing-gear tires triggered a major emergency response and a federal investigation
A routine international landing turned into a runway drama Tuesday night when a LATAM Airlines jet arriving from Lima suffered catastrophic tire failures on touchdown at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The Incident
The Boeing 767-300ER touched down at 7:38 p.m., 17 minutes ahead of schedule, after a seven-hour flight from Peru. Moments later, all rear tires on the landing gear blew out, according to radio traffic captured by local outlets.
An Atlanta fire-rescue responder reported:
> “All tires are blown on the landing gear on the rear, the last eight. All tires under the wing seem to be blown.”
Emergency units initially responded to a call for “flat tires on an aircraft” but upgraded the scene after the extent of the damage became clear.
Aftermath and Investigation
- Passengers were evacuated on the runway and remained there for hours
- No injuries were reported to the 170+ people on board
- Portions of the runway were closed for safety
- Normal airport operations resumed with minimal disruption
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it has opened an investigation into the cause of the blow-outs.
Parents waiting for news described the anxiety:
- Barbara Williams, whose 16-year-old son was aboard, said she was “already freaking out”
- Brandon Hagin, stepfather of another passenger, praised the quick updates: “It’s nice to hear somewhat quickly the developments… Accidents do happen and the most important thing is how the response is…”
Key Takeaways
- All rear tires on a LATAM Boeing 767 burst after a safe landing in Atlanta
- Emergency crews surrounded the aircraft but no one was hurt
- The FAA has launched an official investigation
- Runway closures were brief and airport traffic continued
Investigators will now examine whether landing speed, brake heat, or runway debris contributed to the simultaneous tire failures.
