A Boeing 777 made an emergency landing in Los Angeles on Thursday after losing a tire from one of its wheels during takeoff.
A video posted online shows one of the landing gear wheels falling seconds after the plane left the ground at San Francisco International Airport.
🇺🇸 A United Airlines Boeing 777 lost a wheel on takeoff from San Francisco.
▫️The wheel crashed into cars in the airport parking lot.
pic.twitter.com/SfYvlDGBdf
— air plus news (@airplusnews) March 7, 2024
The tire bounced and ended up in an airport parking lot, damaging several cars, but causing no casualties, according to local media KRON4.
Shortcomings pointed out
The plane was bound for Japan and had 249 people on board, United Airlines said.
The plane has six wheels on each of its two landing gears, so it can land safely if a wheel is missing or damaged, she also said.
The fact remains that this emergency landing comes two months after an incident involving another model from the American aircraft manufacturer.
At the beginning of January, a door stopper on a Boeing 737 MAX 9, operated by Alaska Airlines, detached from the cabin a few minutes after takeoff.
Investigations have been opened by the American authorities in charge of aviation security, and a report from an independent commission appointed by the air regulator (FAA) has notably pointed out shortcomings in the manufacturer's safety systems.