A United Airlines jet lost a landing-gear wheel during takeoff from Los Angeles but managed to land safely in Denver, its planned destination, without any injuries, the airline reported.
“The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating the cause of this event,” United stated on Monday. This marks the second such incident for the airline this year.
The aircraft involved was a nearly 30-year-old Boeing 757-200, carrying 174 passengers and 7 crew members, according to FlightRadar24 data. Boeing ceased production of the 757 in 2004.
In March, a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 jet bound for Japan lost a tire mid-air after taking off from San Francisco, safely landing at Los Angeles International Airport. The tire fell onto a car in an airport employee parking lot, breaking a window but causing no injuries.
Monday’s incident adds to a string of recent issues with United Airlines planes. In March, one aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport due to a hydraulic system problem. Another flight that month veered off the taxiway and into the grass while attempting to land in Houston.
Also in March, a flight carrying 167 passengers made an emergency landing in Houston after bright flames erupted from the engine of United flight 1118, a Boeing 737-900 en route from Houston to Fort Myers, Florida.
US flight issues gained significant attention in January after a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 mid-air shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon, forcing an emergency landing and injuring several people.
