DALLAS — Pakistani authorities have found the missing wheel of a Pakistan International Airlines (PK) Airbus A320 (not pictured) that landed without one of its main landing gear wheels in Lahore. The incident has led to questions about aircraft maintenance and safety protocols.
Incident Overview
Flight PK-306 took off from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport (KHI) on the evening of March 13 bound for Lahore. The aircraft landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE), and a routine post-flight inspection revealed that one out of six rear wheels was missing. Nonetheless, the plane successfully landed, and no passengers or crew were harmed.
According to subsequent investigations, the missing wheel was found near the remote parking bay at KHI's Ispahani Hangar. Technicians at the airport’s wheel shop discovered the detached tire beside the landing gear of a parked Boeing 777. Early reports indicate that the wheel could have come off during takeoff.
Investigation, Safety Measures
Pakistan International Airlines' Flight Safety Department has launched a detailed investigation in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA). A PIA team was also sent to Lahore to examine grounded aircraft and collect data.
The CAA’s initial observations indicate that an external object might have hit the wheel on Karachi's runway, causing it to detach. Officials have also recovered some of the wheel shafts from the Karachi airport.
Airbus also contacted PIA about the incident, and the aircraft maker sought a detailed report including flight data for the last three months, maintenance details, and information on the aircraft's landing gear system. The Airbus A320 with registration AP-BLS will now be subject to a further technical probe.
Aircraft, Fleet Overview
The aircraft in question is 18 years old. The PK fleet comprises 31 aircraft: 16 Airbus A320s, 12 Boeing 777s, and three ATRs. The airline and aviation authorities continue to make the maintenance of these planes a predominant concern.
Although the aircraft’s design kept it safe after losing a wheel, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper pre-flight planning, inspections, and maintenance. The investigations’ results will help determine how and by what means this may happen in the future.
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