The accident happened at lunchtime on Thursday. A United Airlines Boeing 777 had just taken off from San Francisco International Airport when one of the wheels detached from one of the rear wheel axles and fell limply to the ground.
– It is terribly serious. A wheel like this weighs a lot, says journalist and flight analyst Jan Ohlsson.
No one was injured in the accident, but the airport’s staff car park was not so lucky. Pictures from the scene show how the aircraft wheel hit the middle of the parking lot and hit several cars. Some of the cars were badly damaged with broken windows and large dents.
– If someone were to sit there behind the windscreens, death would be instantaneous, says Jan Ohlsson.
“Shouldn’t happen”
Shortly after it became clear that one of the wheels had fallen off, the aircraft, which was on its way to Japan, was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport.
235 passengers and 14 staff were on board.
– They sat a little safer. But they are certainly a certain anxiety for both pilots and passengers because they cannot really know what has happened. They don’t see what is seen on the video, says Jan Ohlsson.
According to Jan Ohlsson, what happened is remarkable.
– That shouldn’t be able to happen. The only logical explanation I can find is that they either changed tires and forgot some screws, or it’s sabotage. But it’s a strange form of sabotage, so it’s likely that the wheel isn’t really stuck.
Tough time for Boeing
It is most likely that the wheels were changed before the long flight between San Francisco and Japan, according to Jan Ohlsson, and therefore the responsibility also falls on United Airlines.
At the same time, the aircraft manufacturer Boeing has been on the upswing for a long time. The criticism is mainly about the accident where a Boeing plane belonging to Alaska Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing after a windshield and part of an emergency exit door came off, but there are more reasons according to Jan Ohlsson.
– There have been weaknesses in product control during construction, and many loose screws have been found. Recently, there have been reports of loose rudders. So Boeing is really in the doldrums, you could say.