In a bizarre incident near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, an emergency evacuation slide fell off a United Airlines Boeing 767-300 and landed in the backyard of a suburban home. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, stating that the plane, UAL Flight 12, had safely landed after a trip from Zurich, Switzerland. Maintenance workers on the ground realized that the emergency slide was missing from the plane's side. The plane was carrying 155 customers and 10 crew members.

The incident occurred during the final preparations for landing, with the 9-hour, 22-minute flight already in its descent. The slide dropped into the backyard of Laura and Patrick Devitt's home, causing damage to their property. Patrick Devitt's son and father-in-law were in the kitchen having lunch when they heard a loud boom at 12:15 p.m. Investigating the noise, they discovered the deflated slide in their backyard. The Devitts described the slide as larger than a small car and stated that it had damaged the roof, downspout, and a window screen.

Fortunately, no residents were injured by the falling slide. The Devitts promptly dragged the silver slide to their front yard and contacted the authorities. The FAA, along with other investigators, responded to the scene on North Chester Avenue. An FAA spokesperson confirmed that an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

United Airlines, in a statement, expressed their immediate contact with the FAA and their cooperation in understanding the situation. The airline did not provide any further details about how the slide came off the plane. The slide is located in a compartment near the wing and exit door, and it can fall off without the door opening. The compartment door was open when the plane landed.

The FAA is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. A similar incident occurred in Boston in 2019 when an improperly closed door caused an emergency slide to fall from a Delta 767-300 into a suburban area. Transportation expert Joe Schwieterman from DePaul University noted the pattern and emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation.

The Devitts, relieved that no one was harmed, expressed their gratitude for the slide not hitting their house directly. They plan to stay in contact with United Airlines regarding the incident.