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Aviation: a Boeing 777 loses a wheel during takeoff
Aviation: a Boeing 777 loses a wheel during takeoff
(France 2)
During takeoff from San Francisco airport, United States, a Boeing 777 lost a wheel from its left landing gear. This incident adds to the aircraft manufacturer’s other setbacks.
A Boeing 777 took off from San Francisco Airport (United States) for Japan when a wheel on the left landing gear came off. On the ground, the 250 kg wheel bounced and went over a fence before crashing into several cars and ending up in the middle of the airport car park. The employees were scared. The plane, with its 249 passengers and crew members, had to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles (United States).
An incident that remains rare
United Airlines wanted to be reassuring: the plane has six wheels on both landing gears and could land safely. “One thing that is exceedingly rare is for the entire wheel to come off.”, analyzes Gérard Feldzer, former airline pilot, president of Aviation Sans Frontières. The incident is believed to be the result of a maintenance problem on the part of the company. It adds to Boeing’s recent setbacks. Just two months ago, a door on one of its planes came loose in mid-flight.
