A United Airlines flight departing from San Francisco International Airport experienced a tire malfunction during takeoff, resulting in damage to several cars in a parking lot. The incident occurred on Thursday morning as the flight was en route to Osaka, Japan. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the situation.
According to Doug Yakel, spokesperson for the San Francisco airport, the plane lost a portion of its landing gear tire during takeoff. United Airlines confirmed that one tire was indeed lost after the plane had taken off. The debris from the tire landed in an employee parking lot at the airport, causing damage to several cars. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries resulting from the incident.
United flight 35, which had 249 passengers and crew members on board, was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport and safely landed at around 1:20 p.m. The airline is arranging for a new aircraft to accommodate those affected by the diversion.
The incident caught the attention of an American Airlines pilot who was in communication with air traffic control. In audio captured by LiveATC.net, the pilot can be heard asking about the whereabouts of the lost tire. The controller responded that they were unaware of its location and that it would take some time to locate it.
The plane involved in the incident was identified as a Boeing 777-200, which is equipped with six tires on each of its two main landing gear struts. United Airlines assured that the aircraft is designed to land safely even with missing or damaged tires.
Following the incident, the runway at San Francisco International Airport was temporarily closed to clear debris. However, it has since reopened and there have been no further disruptions to airport operations.
The FAA is currently conducting an investigation into the tire malfunction to determine the cause of the incident. As of now, no further details have been released regarding the findings of the investigation.
In conclusion, the tire malfunction experienced by a United Airlines flight during takeoff from San Francisco International Airport resulted in damage to cars in a parking lot. The plane was safely diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, and no injuries were reported. The FAA is actively investigating the incident to determine the cause.