United Airlines Faces New Boeing Incident

A United Airlines flight destined for Japan was forced to divert to Los Angeles on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024, after losing one of its tires shortly after takeoff from San Francisco International Airport. The incident involved a Boeing 777 aircraft, which, according to airport reports, dropped a tire during takeoff around 11:35 a.m. local California time. The airport briefly closed one of its runways to clear debris from the fallen tire.

The Boeing 777 model is equipped with twelve tires across its two main landing gear supports. United Airlines emphasized that the aircraft is designed to land safely even with damaged or missing tires. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced an investigation into the incident.

Debris from the tire fell into an airport employee parking lot, causing damage to several vehicles but resulting in no injuries, as confirmed by ABC News. The airline pledged to collaborate with the affected vehicle owners.

Onboard the affected flight were 235 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and four pilots. United Airlines promptly arranged for a replacement aircraft, allowing passengers to resume their journey to Osaka later on that same day. The company commended its ground teams for their swift response and assistance to customers upon arrival.

This incident gains additional attention due to its resemblance to recent aviation episodes, notably a January incident involving a Boeing 757 losing a nose wheel tire during taxiing in Atlanta, prompting a FAA investigation (The Washington Post). Another incident gained notoriety when an engine caught fire during takeoff earlier this week as covered in Mexico Business News.

In a separate incident, adding to the recent challenges faced by United Airlines and Boeing, a Boeing 737 operated by the airline rolled onto the grass while exiting the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident but did not report any injuries. Passengers on the Boeing 737 were safely evacuated, and the FAA indicated that they were transported to the terminal.