A United Airlines Boeing 777 plane experienced a midair incident when it lost a tire shortly after takeoff from San Francisco International Airport. The incident occurred around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday, but the plane was able to safely land at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The flight, United flight 35, was en route to Osaka, Japan, with 249 people on board.
The plane’s safe landing at LAX was captured by SkyCAL, a live streaming service that provides coverage of the airport. The footage showed the plane touching down without any apparent issues. After taxiing to a gate, the passengers were allowed to disembark. United Airlines announced that a new plane would be dispatched to transport the passengers to their final destination in Osaka.
United Airlines assured the public that the Boeing 777-200 is designed to land safely even with missing or damaged tires. Each of the plane’s two main landing gear struts is equipped with six tires. The airline stated that no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate the cause of the wheel failure.
A YouTube video captured the moment when the tire detached from the plane. The footage, uploaded by Peter/LA Flights, shows the incident occurring at approximately 11:24:22 according to the time code displayed on the video.
Julie Sharp, a digital producer at kcalnews.com, reported on this incident. She has previously written for The Beach Reporter and the Palos Verdes Post, covering local news and community events. With a background in print journalism from Cal State University Long Beach, Julie specializes in breaking news, crime, and feature pieces. She has also worked as a video journalist for CBS in the Los Angeles market.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures in aviation. Despite the tire failure, the skilled pilots were able to safely land the plane, ensuring the well-being of all passengers and crew on board. The FAA’s investigation will shed light on the cause of the incident, allowing for necessary improvements to be made to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
In conclusion, the United Airlines plane’s tire failure midair was a concerning incident, but thanks to the expertise of the pilots and the design of the aircraft, a safe landing was achieved at LAX. The passengers will soon be on their way to Osaka, Japan, with a replacement plane. The FAA’s investigation will provide valuable insights into the cause of the wheel failure, contributing to enhanced safety measures in the aviation industry.