SpiceJet Aircraft Loses Wheel After Takeoff, Lands Safely in Mumbai
A SpiceJet Q400 aircraft operating a flight from Kandla to Mumbai lost an outer wheel during takeoff on Friday. The wheel was later found on the runway at Kandla airport. The flight continued to its destination and executed a safe emergency landing at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The airline confirmed that the aircraft taxied to the terminal on its own power and all passengers disembarked normally without any injuries, averting a potential disaster.
Unpacked:
Losing a wheel during takeoff is very rare. Usual causes include issues with the locking device, under-torqued axle nuts, bearing seizure, improper wheel installation, or fatigue failure of retention hardware.
When an aircraft loses a wheel, air traffic control declares a full emergency, and emergency services like fire brigades and ambulances are placed on standby at the destination airport to ensure preparedness for any complications during landing.
Yes, SpiceJet has faced other safety incidents, including a suspected tailpipe fire on another flight the previous day and a tyre burst on a flight from Dubai to Kochi in 2023. No injuries were reported in those incidents.
Last September, India’s aviation regulator placed SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance after finding deficiencies in its engineering facilities. Concerns were raised due to the airline's earlier financial constraints, though these issues have reportedly been resolved recently.