American Airlines flight grounded in Des Moines after mechanical issue

Des Moines Airport plans $500 million expansion

The Des Moines International Airport is planning a $500 million expansion

Zach Boyden-Holmes, Des Moines Register

Crews are still inspecting a Chicago-bound American Airlines flight that made an emergency landing roughly 30 minutes after takeoff at the Des Moines International Airport.

American Airlines flight 449 took off with 119 passengers from Des Moines International around 6:05 a.m. Saturday, June 7, en route to the Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

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It wasn’t long before the pilot turned the plane around due to a mechanical issue, airport communications manager Sarah Hoodjer said.

The pilot landed the plane safely back in Des Moines at 6:40 a.m. and taxied to a gate where passengers exited. No one on board suffered injuries, Hoodjer said.

Airport says similar emergency landings aren’t uncommon

Hoodjer noted that route diversions and emergency landings caused by mechanical issues are common.

Crews are investigating what caused the sudden landing, she said.

The plane was expected to take off once the issue was fixed. Some of the Chicago-bound passengers were waiting for the plane to be fixed, while others had been rebooked onto other flights.

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There were two other flights scheduled to Chicago on June 7 − one was scheduled to depart at 1:50 p.m. and the other at 5:56 p.m.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @vbarreda2.