United Airlines plane forced into emergency landing after tyre falls off in mid-air

United Airlines plane forced into emergency landing after tyre falls off in mid-air

WATCH NOW: United Airlines flight diverts to LAX after losing a tyre

REUTERS
Holly Bishop

By Holly Bishop


Published: 08/03/2024

- 08:42

Updated: 08/03/2024

- 09:46

The aircraft had to land at Los Angeles Airport after it was alerted to the landing gear failure

A United Airlines plane had to make an emergency landing after it lost a tyre during takeoff.

The aircraft bound for Osaka, Japan, had barely left San Francisco airport when the Boeing 777-200's wheel came off.



The plane, carrying 235 passengers and a crew of 14, had to quickly land at Los Angeles Airport after it was alerted to the landing gear failure.

Shocking footage of a car crumpled under the weight of the plane tyre has circulated online.

United Airlines/Tyre on ground

A United Airlines plane was forced into emergency landing after losing tyre while taking off

Reuters

The back of the vehicle, parked at San Francisco airport carpark, has been completely crushed.

No one was injured during the incident.

Fire engines stood by but were not needed as the Boeing 777 made an uneventful landing.

Airport spokesperson Dae Levine said the aircraft landed safely two-thirds of the way down a runway.

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"The 777-200 has six tyres on each of its two main landing gear struts. The aircraft is designed to land safely with missing or damaged tyres," United said.

An investigation into the incident has been launched by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating a United Airlines flight last month that had "stuck" rudder pedals during the landing rollout.

A day earlier, one of the engines on another United Airlines 737 burst into flames mid-flight.

United Airlines planes

An airport spokesperson said the aircraft (not pictured) landed safely two-thirds of the way down a runway

PA

The jet set off from Houston and was due to land in Fort Meyers, Florida. However, after the fire broke out, it was forced to turn around after 15 minutes.

No one was injured.

The cause of the explosion is not yet known but is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Earlier today, an Alaska Airlines flight heading to Phoenix had to turn around and land in Portland after fumes were spotted in the cabin.

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