Plane found to be without one wheel after landing: PIA

LAHORE: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched an investigation after Flight PK-306, traveling from Karachi to Lahore, landed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport without one of its rear wheels.

A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the issue was discovered during a post-landing inspection, revealing that one of the aircraft’s tires was missing. Though more than 14 hours have passed since the flight’s arrival, the missing wheel has not been located at either Karachi or Lahore airports. Reports indicate that the aircraft had all its wheels intact at the time of takeoff from Karachi and landed normally in Lahore. Following a notification from Lahore’s Air Traffic Control (ATC), a part of the tire shaft was later found at the Karachi airport.

According to a preliminary statement from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the incident may have resulted from an external object striking the runway at Karachi.

The PIA spokesperson stated that while the final report will determine the exact cause, initial assessments suggest that the missing wheel could have been affected by a runway fault or another external factor. However, the aircraft’s design ensured that the landing remained safe and smooth.

A PIA investigation team has been dispatched to Lahore, while the aviation safety authorities have also initiated a formal inquiry into the incident.