On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration shared that they are investigating after a Chicago resident found an aircraft emergency escape slide in his backyard.
The inflatable slide, which is believed to have fallen from a United Airlines flight from Zurich, Switzerland, fell onto the roof of a northwest Chicago home. Due to the impact, the house suffered minor damage. Surveillance footage from a nearby home captured the moment the large slide plummeted from the sky.
While speaking with ABC affiliate WLS, homeowner Patrick Devitt said, “My father-in-law and my son are having lunch in the kitchen, and they hear a loud boom on the side of the wall.” After he saw the strange sight of the silver-colored plastic slide in his backyard he then dragged it to the street. “When it’s all stretched out…it’s larger than a small car. It’s a very, very big piece of equipment that fell,” Devitt said. He also said he called 911 and FAA also arrived to investigate.
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United Airlines later confirmed that the flight was carrying 155 customers and 10 crew. However, in a statement, the airline said it immediately contacted the FAA but they are not investigating the matter. Meanwhile, United said it is working with its team to figure out exactly what happened.
Thankfully no injuries were reported when the slide landed on the ground or onboard the aircraft. Though the incident startled residents who live below the flight paths to O’Hare.
Devitt said, “Just seeing that in my backyard, I was like ‘Wow, this really happened. “This fell off an airplane and landed in our backyard.”
“I’m stunned a little bit. I’m just glad that everybody is safe and okay. Just, just seeing that in my backyard, like wow. This really happened. It fell off of an airplane and landed in our backyard,” Devitt said.
What Are Slides Used For On Planes?
For those who don’t know, slides on planes serve a crucial role in ensuring the safety and evacuation of passengers during emergencies. In the event of an evacuation, slides are deployed to provide a quick and safe exit from the aircraft. These inflatable slides are designed to be sturdy yet flexible, allowing passengers to swiftly slide down and away from the plane.
The primary purpose of these slides is to facilitate the rapid evacuation of passengers in emergency situations such as fire, smoke, or when landing on water. They act as an alternative means of escape when traditional exits such as doors may be inaccessible or compromised.
Furthermore, these slides not only aid in passenger evacuation but also assist cabin crew members in their duties. In certain cases, flight attendants may use them as a means to access specific areas of the aircraft quickly or assist passengers who require additional assistance during boarding or disembarking.