American Airlines plane catches fire at Chicago Airport, 8 injured

American Airlines Flight 383 caught fire during takeoff from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Friday afternoon, forcing a mass evacuation of the plane.



The incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. local time, and reports documented the large fire seen on the runway. The Boeing 767-300 was departing for Miami International Airport, according to FlightAware.

At least eight people were injured, two of which were serious, during the incident, but all 161 passengers and nine crew members were able to get off the plane. Passengers said they heard an explosion as the plane accelerated, according to the report.

"Within 10 or 15 seconds we would have been in the air," passenger Hector Cardenas told ABC7.

The fire was quickly put out, and an FAA statement said the accident was caused by a blown tire. In a separate statement, American Airlines said the fire was caused by an "engine-related issue." It's not believed that weather conditions played a role in the incident.