On June 10, an American Airlines flight at Chicago O'Hare International Airport experienced an engine issue before takeoff. A video captured by a passenger on American Airlines Flight 2537 showed flames and black smoke coming from the engine. The airline attributed the incident to a maintenance problem, as no fire was found inside the engine after inspections. Passengers were later able to depart for Tucson International Airport without injury.
The aircraft, initially scheduled to depart at 09:50 local time, took off nearly four hours late due to the need for a replacement jet. The replacement Airbus A319 departed at 13:45 and arrived in Tucson at 15:02, making up some time during the flight.
The aircraft involved in this incident has been in service for over two decades, originally delivered to America West Airlines and joining American Airlines in 2013. This situation highlights the challenges of maintaining older aircraft within a fleet.