The 96th Academy Awards were in the spotlight for more than just the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. A United Airlines flight departing from San Francisco International Airport to Osaka, Japan, experienced a frightening incident when a tire fell off during takeoff, causing damage to multiple vehicles in a parking lot.
According to officials, the mishap occurred at approximately 11:35 a.m. as United Flight 35 was en route to Osaka. The airline confirmed that a portion of the landing gear tire was lost during takeoff. Fortunately, the flight was able to make a safe landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) following the incident.
The tire debris landed in an employee parking lot at San Francisco International Airport, leading to caution tape being placed around the affected vehicles. Despite the dramatic nature of the event, there were no reported injuries.
United Airlines has since issued a statement, assuring that arrangements are being made for a new aircraft to transport the passengers to Osaka on the same day. The flight had a total of 249 people on board, including 235 customers, 10 flight attendants, and four pilots.
It was revealed that the Boeing 777-200 aircraft, which lost the tire, is equipped with six tires on each of its two main landing gear struts, and is designed to land safely even with missing or damaged tires. The airline emphasized that the incident did not have any further impact on airport operations, as the runway was briefly closed to clear debris but was promptly reopened.
An eyewitness, Gary Glass, provided a harrowing account of the incident, expressing the potential danger posed by the falling tire. He described the tire as spinning at a rapid speed, narrowly missing several vehicles before ultimately landing on a red Tesla, causing substantial damage.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unexpected dangers that can arise in air travel and the importance of swift and effective response measures in ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and airport personnel.
