British Airways A350 Loses Wheel After Takeoff From Las Vegas

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A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 lost a wheel from its main landing gear shortly after departing from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Monday evening. The aircraft continued its scheduled journey and landed safely in the United Kingdom more than nine hours later, with no reported injuries.

Why it matters

While the loss of a wheel during takeoff is a rare and concerning incident, modern long-haul aircraft are designed to operate safely even with the loss of a single wheel. This event highlights the safety protocols and engineering behind commercial air travel.

The details

Live airport cameras and flight tracking services captured video showing sparks near the right landing gear before one of the rear wheels detached and fell within the airport perimeter. The detached wheel was later recovered, and no damage to airport property was reported. British Airways is cooperating with authorities as investigations proceed.

• The incident occurred as the aircraft climbed after takeoff from Las Vegas on Monday evening.
• The aircraft landed at London Heathrow on Tuesday afternoon without further incident.

What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board and other aviation agencies are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the wheel loss to determine the cause.