An American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City was forced to return to LAX and make a heavy landing on June 13 after pilots detected a window seal leak just 15 minutes into the journey. The incident marks the second emergency return by the airline at LAX this month.
Flight 2546, operated by a 26-year-old Boeing 737-800 (N910AN), had been climbing through FL260 when the issue was discovered. Pilots leveled off at FL240 to assess the situation before deciding to turn back. The aircraft landed safely on runway 25R approximately 45 minutes after departure. A replacement aircraft, also a 737-800, completed the flight with a delay of four and a half hours.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident, confirming the return was due to a reported window seal leak. The flight, which competes with Aeromexico, Delta, Viva, and Volaris on the LAX-Mexico City route, typically departs at 09:15 and arrives at 14:00 local time.
American Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 fleet remains a cornerstone of its short-haul operations, with 303 active units—making it the largest U.S. operator and second-largest globally after Ryanair. The airline’s 737-800s average 15.6 years in age and are configured with 172 seats across three classes.
Window seal leaks are uncommon but potentially serious. While often caused by maintenance errors or material wear, they have led to dramatic in-flight incidents in aviation history. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in this case, and the aircraft returned safely.
Swifteradio.com
