Boeing faces renewed controversy as one of its 737 aircraft experienced an emergency landing due to a wheel malfunction during takeoff.
The incident occurred at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday. A video circulated on social media platform X depicted smoke emanating from one of the aircraft’s wheels as the FlySafair flight returned to the runway shortly after departing from the same airport.
🇿🇦🇺🇸 A Boeing 737-800 lost a wheel while taking off from Johannesburg Airport (South Africa), Aviation24 reports.
Ground personnel identified the damage and informed the pilots. The plane returned and landed safely.
No one was injured during the emergency, but there were flight… pic.twitter.com/5JNIyE6zGA
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) April 23, 2024
FlySafair, a South African airline, confirmed that the flight landed safely back at OR Tambo, with no reported injuries.
According to a spokesperson for the airline, the crew responded promptly upon noticing the issue, opting to return to Johannesburg. “FA212 altered its course back to Johannesburg and circled near Parys to reduce fuel weight before landing,” stated Kirby Gordon in remarks to local media.
Passengers were subsequently transferred to an alternative aircraft bound for Cape Town.
Ongoing Scrutiny of Boeing
Boeing has been under increasing scrutiny since a concerning incident in January, wherein a fuselage panel detached from a 737 MAX during flight.
This latest event has reignited concerns about Boeing’s manufacturing and safety protocols, which were initially raised following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
In a recent development, a Boeing engineer raised alarms regarding the 787 Dreamliner, suggesting an immediate grounding due to the risk of structural failures mid-flight. The engineer alleged significant gaps between parts exceeding company standards, posing potential safety hazards leading to “catastrophic accidents” without warning.
Boeing has countered these claims, asserting that allegations of severe structural deficiencies on the 787 are inaccurate and do not reflect the extensive efforts undertaken to ensure the aircraft’s quality and long-term safety.
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