A wheel reportedly detached from a United Airlines Boeing 757-200 shortly after takeoff on Monday, July 8. Alarming footage shared by RadarBox captures the moment the tire dislodged from the plane’s undercarriage, falling to the ground mere seconds after the aircraft ascended.
United Airlines confirmed that the wheel came off at 7 am as Flight 1001 departed Los Angeles International Airport en route to Denver. Fortunately, the aircraft landed safely in Denver approximately three hours later, with no injuries reported among the crew or passengers.
A spokesperson for United stated that the wheel was later recovered in Los Angeles. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation, and it remains unclear if the wheel caused any damage upon falling.
This incident mirrors a similar event in March when a Boeing 777-200, bound for Osaka, Japan, lost a wheel after taking off from San Francisco. The plane was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, where it landed safely. The dislodged tire in that incident caused damage to several vehicles in the airport’s parking lot.
Boeing’s reputation has suffered significantly due to years of investigations, lawsuits, and whistleblower testimonies. The company has now agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge related to two crashes involving 737 Max jetliners. According to the Justice Department, this plea follows the government’s assertion that Boeing violated a previous agreement that had shielded it from prosecution for more than three years.
“We can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle on terms of a resolution with the Justice Department, subject to the memorialization and approval of specific terms,” Boeing said in a statement to ABC News. The agreement stipulates that Boeing will pay the maximum statutory fine and invest at least $455 million in its compliance and safety programs. However, the deal’s implementation awaits approval from a federal judge.
