IFE Declaired #7229

Oct 16 07 1440z on 122.925 Airshuttle #7229 Reports that the flight attendant says there was a loud bang in the noise wheel area ..The pilot reports that the attendant got a call from Columbia reporting a lot of rubber on the runway...The pilot is trying to work out alternate landing sites ...They are now over Spartinburg wanting to head to Chicago for the Emergency services and longer runways After not being able to talk to maintance she tells them she is declairing IFE ..still working on talking company into letting her go to chicago.. http://flightaware. com/live/ flight/ASH7229/ history/20071016 /1352Z/KCAE/ KORD If you go to the audio room here on this site click on 16OCT for recorded audio .. NOT THE BEST OF REPORTING ..If you listen to the pilot she was going to have the passengers BRACE for the Emergency Landing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, .The rest of the story...from the Chicago Sun Times: Jet with damaged tires lands safely at O'Hare October 16, 2007 FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS An Air Shuttle jet which damaged a tire on takeoff from South Carolina landed safely at O'Hare on Tuesday morning with no injuries reported. Air Shuttle flight 7229 bound for O'Hare from Columbia, S.C., damaged a right gear tire during takeoff, according to City Department of Aviation spokesman Gregg Cunningham. O'Hare officials were alerted to the problem about 10:30 a.m. and the plane landed safely about 15 minutes later, he said. The right main gear tire is located under the wing, and is one of two wheels on each side, Cunningham said. Initial reports said the tire had fallen off, but later inspection said it was just damaged, he said. There were 52 passengers and crew members aboard the plane, and no injuries were reported. The plane was able to taxi to the terminal under its own power, Cunningham said.