Small Fire Breaks Out in Plane's Wheel Well After Landing at O'Hare

An apparent fire in a wheel well forced the evacuation of a United Airlines plane at O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday.

Flight 949 had just arrived from London's Heathrow Airport when the brake assembly on the left side of the aircraft caught fire.  Emergency crews met the Boeing 767 and helped the passengers off the plane.

There were 188 passengers and 11 crew members on board. 

A few people who exited the plane via emergency slides were being evaluated for minor injuries, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.  They included two women who said they injured their ankles and a man who complained of chest pains. 

Those three were taken to the hospital.  The other passengers were bused to the terminal.

"It was harder for the older people, I think," said passenger David Smart of London.  "That steep, steep jump into the chute -- I've never done it before.  For the younger ones, it was OK, but for the older ones, it was a little difficult."

Firefighters quickly doused the flaming brake.