American Airlines Airbus returns safely after emergency overweight landing in Phoenix

During its return, the crew declared an emergency for potential fire risk: "We're gonna go ahead right now and declare an emergency for overweight landing. [...] And for Fire Rescue, for 1823, just be prepared, we're gonna be an overweight landing. Our brakes may be hot. And we had an overheat on the right hand engine, engine 2."

The transcript reveals that despite efforts, the aircraft struggled with altitude gain due to operating on one engine in high temperatures: "We're slowly climbing. It's the heat." The plane never reached more than around 4,000 feet during its loop back.

Factors such as high temperatures in Phoenix—reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius—may have contributed additional stress during takeoff and subsequent issues with gaining altitude or maintaining weight limits.

After landing successfully, fire services queried about brake temperatures which reached "280 [degrees Celsius] and creeping," later rising further on one side due possibly to single-engine operation affecting balance during landing.

Overall operational parameters should theoretically allow such flights without incident; however, added weight alongside extreme heat conditions likely exacerbated this particular situation.