Burnt rubber isn't what you want to smell when your plane is coming in for a landing.
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However, despite the awful aroma, the passengers of Southwest Airlines 1243 were safe when they landed in Chicago's Midway Airport yesterday, August 3. But what caused the smell? We have the details below.
What Caused the "Burnt Rubber" Smell On the Southwest Airlines Flight?
The Boeing 737-800 had left Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers around 5:05 a.m. local time.
Approximately two and a half hours later, as the aircraft approached Chicago, the pilots of Southwest Airlines' "California One" reported issues with the landing gear.
As PEOPLE reports, the pilots told air traffic control that there was smoke coming from the aircraft.
"We got something wrong with our nose gear," a pilot said in an audio recording. " I don't think we're gonna be able to clear [the runway]."
Passengers Said It Was a "Bumpy" Landing
Passengers on the flight said that the landing was "bumpy." That's when they began to notice the burnt rubber smell.
"I realized we stopped and we weren't close to getting off the plane," said passenger Mya Catro. "And then I could smell the burnt rubber."
Another passenger, Brian Rigsby, said he could see the smoke coming from the front of the plane.
"Once we did come to a stop, we could see smoke coming," he said. "Not excessive, but we knew something was wrong."
While everyone on the plane certainly had a reason to panic, the flight crew remained professional and kept passengers calm.
"We hear the tires have been shredded and we're like, 'Whoa, this is serious,'" said Meli Castro.
Footage showed mechanics replacing the aircraft's tire while on the runway. Passengers remained onboard until the plane was towed to the gate.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. They confirmed that the plane "blew a tire after landing."
