LAHORE: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched a thorough investigation after one of its planes, Flight PK-306 from Karachi to Lahore, landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport without one of its rear wheels.
The discovery was made during a post-flight inspection, revealing the troubling absence of one of the aircraft’s tires.
More than 14 hours have passed since the incident, yet the missing wheel remains unaccounted for at both Karachi and Lahore airports. Initial reports suggest that all wheels were in place when the plane took off from Karachi, and the flight landed safely and without noticeable issues in Lahore.
However, following a notification from Lahore’s Air Traffic Control (ATC), a part of the tire shaft was discovered on the runway at Karachi airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), in its preliminary findings, suspects that an external object might have struck the runway in Karachi, potentially leading to the loss of the wheel during the flight.
While the exact cause is yet to be determined, PIA’s spokesperson indicated that early assessments point towards a possible runway fault or another external factor as the cause.
The aircraft’s design played a critical role in ensuring a smooth and safe landing despite the missing tire, the spokesperson added. A dedicated team from PIA has been dispatched to Lahore to further investigate, while aviation safety authorities have also begun a formal inquiry into the matter.
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