British Airways Plane Loses Wheel During Takeoff in Las Vegas
A dramatic incident involving a British Airways flight out of Las Vegas is now under investigation after a wheel was seen falling off the aircraft just seconds after takeoff, according to officials.
Wild video captured the moment British Airways Flight BA274 departed Harry Reid International Airport around 8:45 p.m. Monday en route to the United Kingdom. As the aircraft lifted off the runway, sparks appeared to shoot from the right landing gear, alarming onlookers who were filming the departure.
As the plane climbed and its landing gear began to retract, one wheel detached and dropped back onto the runway. The footage quickly circulated online, raising questions about passenger safety and aircraft maintenance.
Despite the frightening visuals, the flight continued across the Atlantic without further incident. The Federal Aviation Administration later confirmed that the aircraft “landed safely” at London Heathrow Airport roughly nine hours after departing Las Vegas.
That the detached wheel was later recovered from the airport’s airfield. No injuries were reported, and it remains unclear whether passengers on board were even aware that anything had gone wrong during takeoff.
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A350-1000, a long-haul wide-body jet commonly used for international routes. Each A350-1000 is equipped with two main landing gear units, with six wheels on each side, for a total of 12 main wheels, plus an additional two wheels on the nose gear.
Aviation experts note that the redundancy built into modern aircraft systems can allow planes to operate safely even if a single wheel is lost, depending on when and how the failure occurs. In a statement addressing the incident, a British Airways spokesperson emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety.
“Safety and security underpins everything we do, and we’re supporting the authorities with their investigation. The FAA confirmed that it has opened an investigation into the incident to determine what caused the wheel to detach and whether any maintenance or mechanical issues were involved. Such investigations typically review aircraft records, maintenance history, and video evidence, and may include inspections of similar aircraft as a precaution.
While the outcome was ultimately uneventful for passengers, the incident adds to broader scrutiny around aviation safety and aircraft reliability. For now, officials have stressed that there was no danger once the plane was airborne and that standard safety procedures were followed throughout the flight.
As the investigation continues, both British Airways and aviation authorities are expected to provide additional updates once more details are known.
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