San Francisco, California – A tire from a United Airlines flight bound for Osaka, Japan fell off during takeoff from San Francisco International Airport on Thursday morning, according to officials. The incident prompted the flight to be diverted to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for a safe landing.
Although the tire debris landed in an employee parking lot at the airport, there were no injuries reported. SKY7, a news helicopter, captured footage of police placing caution tape around cars that had been struck by the falling tire.
United Airlines reassured that the flight, which had 235 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and four pilots onboard, was diverted for precautionary reasons. The airline mentioned that the Boeing 777-200 aircraft is equipped to land safely even with missing or damaged tires.
Following the incident, the runway at San Francisco International Airport was temporarily closed to remove debris caused by the falling tire. However, normal airport operations resumed shortly after with no anticipated delays.
Witnesses, including Gary Glass, described the terrifying scene as the tire descended from the sky and damaged multiple cars. Glass recalled the tire bouncing off vehicles in a parking lot, crushing a red Tesla in its path. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among those in the vicinity.
Aviation experts weighed in on the incident, stressing that instances of tires detaching from planes are rare and do not necessarily indicate systemic safety issues. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that an investigation into the matter will be conducted.
As the situation unfolded, United Airlines swiftly arranged for a new aircraft to transport passengers to Osaka later that same evening. The airline expressed gratitude for the professionalism of its crew members who managed the incident and vowed to assist affected parties, including the owners of damaged vehicles at San Francisco International Airport.
In light of this unusual occurrence, industry experts emphasized that loose tires on aircraft are typically attributed to maintenance issues rather than faults in manufacturing. The maintenance team at United Airlines, not the aircraft manufacturer, was responsible for replacing the tire.
Ultimately, the tire mishap serves as a reminder of the stringent safety protocols in place within the aviation industry and the critical role maintenance plays in ensuring the security of air travelers.