A United Airlines plane departing from San Francisco International Airport experienced a dramatic incident when one of its tires fell off shortly after takeoff. The tire landed in a nearby parking lot, causing damage to several vehicles. Despite this mishap, the plane, United Flight 35, safely landed in Los Angeles, and no injuries were reported. The runway had to be briefly closed for debris removal, but there was no significant impact on airport operations.
The Boeing 777-200 aircraft was en route to Osaka, Japan, but had to be diverted to Los Angeles International Airport due to the tire issue. The plane, equipped with six tires on each of its two main landing gear struts, is designed to handle landings with missing or damaged tires. Thankfully, all 249 people on board – including customers, flight attendants, and pilots – were unharmed. Passengers were promptly accommodated on a new plane in Los Angeles to continue their journey to Osaka.
In response to the incident, United Airlines expressed gratitude for the professionalism of the pilots and flight attendants in managing the situation. The airline also assured that they would work with affected customers and the owners of damaged vehicles in San Francisco to address their needs. The focus remains on safety and providing support to those impacted by the unforeseen tire incident.
