A close call: PIA makes miraculous landing in Lahore without one wheel

Dubai: A heart-stopping moment unfolded recently when a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, PK 306, arrived in Lahore from Karachi with one of its rear wheels mysteriously missing.

The incident, which was only discovered during a routine post-landing inspection at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Tuesday night, has prompted a full investigation into the unexplained loss of the tyre.

Although the aircraft, which took off from Karachi with all parts intact, completed its journey and landed smoothly in Lahore, the discovery of the missing wheel left both authorities and passengers in shock.

Initial reports

Preliminary reports from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suggested the missing wheel could be linked to an external object striking the runway during take-off. As the investigation unfolds, PIA’s Flight Safety Department, in collaboration with the CAA, is looking into all possible causes to ensure safety standards are upheld, according to reports in Pakistani media.

What happened

A PIA spokesperson stated that the aircraft departed Karachi with all tyres intact, and preliminary findings suggest the detachment could have been due to a collision with a foreign object on the runway. The pilots were reportedly unaware of the missing tyre during flight operations, as the aircraft landed and taxied normally in Lahore.

Following the discovery, Lahore Air Traffic Control Office (ATCO) alerted Karachi airport authorities, who subsequently located a portion of the tyre’s shaft on the runway.

Landing gear

A team from PIA’s Flight Safety Department has arrived in Lahore to conduct a detailed technical investigation into how the aircraft managed to complete its journey with compromised landing gear. Additionally, aviation safety and investigation authorities have launched their own inquiry into the incident and runway inspection procedures at Karachi airport.

Aviation experts emphasise that modern Airbus A320 aircraft are designed with redundancy systems, allowing them to land safely even with certain mechanical failures. However, this incident has raised serious concerns about preflight safety checks and runway monitoring protocols.