MILAN, ITALY – Major operational disruptions are currently unfolding at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) after an American Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner became disabled on a primary taxiway, creating a significant bottleneck for departing traffic.
The aircraft, registered as N885BP, was scheduled to operate flight AA207 to Miami (MIA). However, a technical failure occurred while the jet was taxiing toward its departure point, leaving it immobilized at the critical entry taxiway for Runway 35R.
Impact on Flight Operations
The positioning of the disabled Dreamliner has effectively blocked the standard access route to one of the airport’s main departure runways. To maintain some level of traffic flow, air traffic control has implemented emergency procedures:
- Backtrack Maneuvers: Departing aircraft are currently required to perform a “backtrack” on the runway—taxiing down the runway itself to reach the takeoff position—which significantly increases the interval between departures.
- Widespread Delays: The reduced cadence of takeoffs has triggered a ripple effect, with dozens of flights facing mounting delays.
- Arrival Disruptions: While landings continue, the congestion on the ground is beginning to impact gate availability and arrival taxi times.
Status of Flight AA207
Passengers aboard the Miami-bound flight remain delayed as ground crews and engineering teams work to safely move the wide-body aircraft. At this stage, it is unclear if the technical issue can be resolved on the tarmac or if the aircraft will need to be towed back to the terminal for repairs.
Airport authorities have not yet provided an estimated time for the reopening of the taxiway. Recovery operations for an aircraft of this size are complex and require specialized equipment to ensure no further damage to the airfield infrastructure or the airframe itself.
