The missing landing wheel of one of the aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been found in the remote area of the Karachi Airport. A few days back, a PIA flight from Karachi landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport with one of its wheels missing.
The incident sparked an investigation into the matter. The wheel was found in the remote parking bay at the Jinnah International Airport, close to the II Chundrigar Hangar.
Wheel shop technicians spotted the Airbus A320 wheel lying near the landing gear of a grounded Boeing 777. The PAA has confirmed that there is no evidence of any casualties or financial damage resulting from the wheel’s detachment.
The matter came to light when the Captain took the walk-around inspection after landing and found that one of the wheels of the six-wheel assemblies on the main landing (gear) rear was missing.
Investigation revealed that the wheel detached during takeoff, yet the issue remained unreported until the flight landed at Lahore Airport. The issue raised concerns about the safety standards of the national carrier.
Aviation Authority and PIA’s engineering team are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matter to avoid such incidents in the future.
Initial reports suggest that the possible reasons behind the detachment of this critical component could include deficiencies in maintenance procedures, manufacturing defects, and material fatigue.
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“The missing wheel of PK-306 has been located successfully. The wheel was found near the remote parking bay of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, adjacent to the Ispahani Hangar,” a spokesperson for the Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) said here on Friday.
“Technicians from the airport’s wheel shop discovered the tire next to the landing gear of a grounded Boeing 777,” he said and added the incident was being investigated by the relevant authorities.
According to official sources, the wheel might have been dislodged during the takeoff, falling off at the Isphani Hangar.