9-7-2024 (LOS ANGELES) In a startling incident that has drawn parallels to a similar occurrence merely months ago, a United Airlines Boeing 757-200 experienced a dramatic wheel detachment just moments after takeoff on Monday morning, prompting concerns about safety protocols and raising further questions about the aviation giant’s commitment to ensuring the utmost standards of operational integrity.
The alarming event unfolded as United Flight 1001 departed from Los Angeles International Airport around 7 a.m., bound for Denver. Footage captured by RadarBox vividly depicts the aircraft’s tire dislodging from the undercarriage and plummeting to the ground below mere seconds after the plane had taken to the skies.
United Airlines swiftly acknowledged the incident in a statement, confirming that a wheel had indeed detached from the Boeing 757-200 during the initial stages of its ascent. Remarkably, the flight managed to safely continue its journey and touched down in Denver approximately three hours later, with none of the 174 passengers or seven crew members sustaining any injuries.
A spokesperson for the airline revealed that the errant wheel was eventually located in Los Angeles, and an investigation into the cause of the mishap has been initiated. However, it remains unclear whether the detached component caused any damage upon impact with the ground.
United Airlines 757 loses a wheel during takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport. United Airlines Flight 1001 continued to Denver Airport where it landed safely. pic.twitter.com/jFDJmQpBKs
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 9, 2024
The incident bears an uncanny resemblance to a near-identical occurrence in March, when an Osaka, Japan-bound Boeing 777-200, carrying 249 individuals, lost a wheel shortly after taking off from San Francisco. In that instance, the flight was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport, where it safely landed without any reported injuries, although the rogue wheel inflicted substantial damage to several vehicles in an airport parking lot.
These back-to-back incidents have reignited scrutiny over Boeing’s adherence to safety protocols and prompted fresh questions about the company’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of operational excellence. The aerospace giant’s reputation has been tarnished in recent years by a series of congressional investigations, lawsuits, and damning whistleblower testimonies alleging a pattern of disregarding safety regulations in pursuit of maximizing profits.
Just this week, Boeing pleaded guilty to criminal fraud charges stemming from a pair of deadly crashes involving its 737 MAX jetliners. The plea deal, offered by federal prosecutors, allowed the company to avoid standing trial on a felony criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States, underscoring the gravity of the allegations leveled against the aviation giant.
