Viral video: United Airlines plane's tire falls off during takeoff, damages cars in employee parking lot

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Despite fire engines on standby at Los Angeles International Airport, they were not required as the Boeing 777 executed a smooth landing, stopping about two-thirds of the way down the runway, confirmed airport spokesperson Dae Levine. The aircraft was subsequently towed away.

United Airlines disclosed that the flight accommodated 235 passengers and 14 crew members. Notably, the 2002-built plane was engineered to land safely even with missing or damaged tires, the airline assured. Passengers were assured of being transferred to an alternate aircraft for the continuation of their journey.

Typically, Boeing 777s are equipped with six tires on each of their two main landing gears. Footage of Flight 35's departure captured the loss of one tire from the left-side landing gear assembly.

Aviation specialists emphasized that tire loss incidents are infrequent and do not signify broader safety concerns. Alan Price, a former Delta Air Lines chief pilot, highlighted the importance of avoiding single points of failure in aviation, reassuring that the remaining tires could adequately manage the load. Loose tires are typically a maintenance matter rather than a manufacturer-induced problem, he told AP. (With Agency Inputs)