Sparks Signal Trouble During Departure (Image Credits: 8newsnow.com)
Las Vegas – A British Airways Airbus A350 shed a tire from its main landing gear shortly after departing Harry Reid International Airport on Monday evening.[1]
Sparks Signal Trouble During Departure
Sparks erupted from the rear of the aircraft’s right-side landing gear moments after the plane lifted off the runway around 9 p.m.[1] The right rear wheel detached approximately 15 seconds later as the jet climbed skyward. Flight BA274, an A350-1000 headed to London Heathrow, pressed on despite the incident.
Airport officials confirmed the event involved the wide-body jet registered as G-XWBN. Crew members maintained control and followed standard procedures for the remainder of the journey. Passengers remained unaware of the severity until later reports surfaced.
Crew Opts to Continue Transatlantic Crossing
The pilots elected to fly the full route rather than return immediately to Las Vegas. This decision aligned with aviation protocols for such mechanical separations on multi-wheel landing gears. The aircraft covered more than 5,200 miles across the Atlantic without further complications.[2]
Landing gear on the A350 features redundancy, with multiple tires per assembly to ensure safe operations even if one fails. Experts noted that circling to burn fuel for a potential return landing would have added unnecessary risk, especially given British Airways’ maintenance facilities at Heathrow. The plane touched down normally in London early Tuesday.
Airport Response and Tire Recovery
Harry Reid International Airport personnel quickly located and retrieved the fallen tire from the airfield. No damage occurred to runways or surrounding property.[3] Monika Bertaki, an airport spokeswoman, reported that the plane reached its destination safely.
The full statement from the airport read: “Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is aware of an incident involving a British Airways aircraft that departed LAS last night and continued on to London, where it landed safely without further incident. The tire was retrieved from the LAS airfield. There were no reported injuries or damage to airport property. The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified.”[3]
Investigation Underway Amid Safety Assurances
The National Transportation Safety Board received notification of the event. British Airways had not issued a public response at the time of reporting. Such incidents, while rare, underscore the robustness of modern aircraft design.
Aviation observers pointed to similar past cases where flights continued safely after losing a wheel. The A350’s gear configuration allows for continued flight with reduced tire count.
- Multiple tires per landing gear strut provide backup.
- Crew training emphasizes assessing risks post-takeoff.
- Destination airports often offer superior repair capabilities for specific fleets.
- Fuel considerations favor completing the journey over emergency returns.
Key Takeaways
- No injuries among passengers or crew.
- Tire recovered intact from the airfield.
- NTSB launched review; flight operations unaffected.
This episode highlights pilots’ quick thinking and aircraft reliability in averting potential crises. How would you have handled such a mid-takeoff alert? Share your views in the comments.
