Shocking moment a wheel FALLS OFF Boeing Dreamlifter after taking off in Italy and heading to US
- The cargo plane lost one of its 100kg wheels during take off from Taranto
- The smoking 4ft wheel hurtled to earth and bounced into a nearby vineyard
- The Boeing safely landed in Charleston and investigators are probing incident
A Boeing has dramatically lost a 100kg wheel during take-off as it shot off the plane seconds after taking to the skies.
The smoking wheel detached from the Dreamlifter aircraft and dropped down to earth, bouncing on the grass at Taranto airport in Italy.
Footage shows one of the four-foot diameter wheels from the main landing gear spin off and hurtle back to ground.
A Boeing has dramatically lost a 100kg wheel during take-off as it shot off the plane in flames seconds after taking to the skies
The N718BA Atlas Air flight was departing Taranto for Charleston, North Carolina at 09.09am yesterday
The smoking wheel detached from the Dreamlifter aircraft and dropped down to earth, bouncing on the grass at Taranto airport in Italy
The missing part was later found in a nearby vineyard outside the confines of the airport in southern Italy after it bounced away.
The N718BA Atlas Air flight was departing Taranto for Charleston, North Carolina at 09.09am yesterday.
Despite the malfunction, the plane landed safely in the US.
Boeing told Simple Flying yesterday: ‘A Dreamlifter cargo flight operated by Atlas Air landed safely earlier today at Charleston International Airport, after losing a wheel assembly from its landing gear on takeoff from the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport in Italy this morning.
‘We will support our operator’s investigation.’
Footage shows one of the four-foot diameter wheels from the main landing gear spin off and hurtle back to ground
The missing part was later found in a nearby vineyard outside the confines of the airport in southern Italy after it bounced away
The plane was flying a passenger Boeing 787 fuselage on board, according to Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera.
The outsized 747-400 Dreamlifter was designed to transport parts between Italy, Japan and the US and was used to fly medical supplies during the Covid pandemic.
Investigators from the National Agency for Flight Safety (ANSV) is probing the mishap and will decide whether to open a formal investigation.
The cargo plane has an enlarged 28ft fuselage to carry large goods, and its maiden voyage was in 2006.
