A Boeing 777 bound for Japan had to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff Thursday after a wheel fell off the plane and dropped into an airport parking lot. Video footage posted online captures the moment the wheel detaches just seconds after the United Airlines plane lifts off from San Francisco International Airport.
See the takeoff and moment the wheel fell off in the video below. Short on time? Fast forward to the 45 second mark.
The wheel bounced into a parking area used by airport employees, causing damage to several cars, as reported by local outlet KRON4. United Airlines confirmed that there were 249 passengers onboard the flight bound for Osaka.
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Boeing has encountered a series of quality control issues, with the latest incident occurring in January when a panel blew off the fuselage of a Boeing 737 Max 9 mid-flight from Portland, Oregon. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, but the incident prompted a 19-day emergency grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 9s.
READ: Differences in Boeing 737-MAX exit doors
In response, U.S. regulators have given Boeing a 90-day ultimatum to address quality control concerns, with the FAA chief emphasizing the need for substantial improvements.
The Boeing 777, equipped with six wheels on each of its main landing struts, is designed to land safely even if some wheels are missing or damaged, according to United Airlines.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration’s spokesperson Tony Molinaro said.
United Airlines expressed gratitude to their pilots and flight attendants, and said they will work with owners of vehicles damaged.
“We’re grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation,” United Airlines said in a statement.
“We’re also grateful to our teams on the ground who were waiting with a tug to move the aircraft soon after it landed and to our teams in the airport who assisted customers upon their arrival.
“We will work with customers as well as with the owners of the damaged vehicles in SFO to ensure their needs are addressed.”
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