A United Airlines Boeing 777 passenger flight lost a tire on takeoff from San Francisco and damaged several cars on the ground. Experts say the loss of tires on a plane could indicate a bigger problem.
A United Airlines passenger flight lost a tire on takeoff from San Francisco. A wheel on the left side of the Boeing 777 fell off shortly after takeoff.
There were 235 passengers and 14 crew on board. No injuries were reported. A torn wheel damaged several cars on the ground. The runway was temporarily closed.
The Japan-bound flight was successfully diverted to Los Angeles, where it landed safely. The investigation is ongoing.
Tire loss can indicate a major safety issue
This plane is said to have been manufactured in 2002. Boeing 777 aircraft have six tires on each of the two main landing gear and some are designed to safely take off and land without tires.
Aviation experts said that losing tires on planes is a rare occurrence and does not indicate a major safety issue. Boeing models are very closely watched these days. In early January, a Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft lost part of its fuselage and had to make an emergency landing.
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