British Airways Plane Loses Wheel During Vegas Take-Off – Still Lands Safely in London
A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 had a shocking start in Las Vegas when a wheel fell off during take-off – but it still managed to complete its flight to London Heathrow without a hitch.
Wheel Sparks as It Detaches Mid-Air
Flight BA274 was climbing out of Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport around 9:10pm local time when a live tracking feed captured the moment the right rear wheel popped off the plane’s landing gear, sparking on take-off.
Tyre Found, Passengers Unaware – No Damage or Injuries
The missing tyre was recovered from the tarmac by airport authorities. Remarkably, there was no damage to airport property and no injuries to anyone on board or on the ground.
Passengers and crew had no idea what had happened, with the flight landing safely at Heathrow a full 27 minutes early after its nine-hour transatlantic journey.
How Did the Plane Fly Without a Wheel?
The Airbus A350’s main landing gear sports six wheels in pairs. Losing one wheel didn’t affect the plane’s ability to land safely. The cause of the wheel loss is still under investigation.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been alerted and will investigate the incident.
British Airways Reacts
A British Airways spokesperson said: “Safety and security underpins everything we do and we’re supporting the authorities with their investigations.”
Harry Reid International Airport confirmed the tyre retrieval and stressed there were no injuries or damage from the incident.
