This week, one of the wheels of a landing gear of a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter fell-off the aircraft while in mid-air. The aircraft had taken off from Taranto, Italy on its flight to Charleston, USA.
Airport personnel searched and located the 100kg aircraft wheel on a nearby field not far from the airport.
One of the MLG wheels of a Boeing Dreamlifter—a modified 747 used to transport components for the 787—fell off shortly after take off this morning in Taranto, Italy. The flight is en route to Boeing’s production facility in Charleston. Live tracking: https://t.co/QpORCsXV4l https://t.co/MZE4hKXf4n
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 11, 2022
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter proceeded and landed at its destination airport without any incidence. It is unclear whether the pilots were aware of the missing wheel on one of the landing gears before coming in for landing at their destination.
#5Y4231, the Dreamlifter with the missing wheel, is descending into Charleston now. Important to note that while suboptimal, the aircraft can land safely without the wheel. https://t.co/QpORCsFLQd pic.twitter.com/2JWeyaYDN9
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 11, 2022
Atlas Air was the airline operating the Boeing 747 Dreamlifter at the time of the incidence. Boeing told this airline that they will support them in their investigations to determine the cause of the incidence.
Below is a video showing the moment the Dreamlifter lost the landing gear wheel shortly after taking off. The massive wheel becomes loose and then detaches from the main landing gear. From there, gravity takes over the 100kg+ wheel’s trajectory and comes to rest on a vineyard field on the edge of the airport. Watch the video:
The Dreamlifter is a modified version of the Boeing 747-400 that has been repurposed specifically to carry oversize cargo. The Dreamlifter is on the same class with the Airbus Beluga which is a modified version of the Airbus A330. The Airbus Beluga also carries oversize cargo, no passengers.
The Dreamlifter that was involved in the incidence had serial number 27042 with registration number N718BA. According to Flightrader24, this aircraft is 30 years old. It was manufactured on August 1992.
Atlas Air that was operating the Dreamlifter is a cargo airline that has its main hub at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Atlas Air has been in business since 1992. The airline has 108 planes.