British Airways Flight Experiences Dramatic Wheel Detachment During Las Vegas Takeoff
A British Airways long-haul flight became the center of global attention this week after one of its landing gear wheels detached during takeoff from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The dramatic incident, captured on video and widely circulated online, involved Flight BA274, an Airbus A350-1000 aircraft bound for London Heathrow.
Dramatic Footage Captures Rare Aviation Incident
On the evening of January 26, 2026, as the aircraft climbed away from the runway during gear retraction, the right rear main landing gear wheel suddenly came loose and fell to the ground near the airport. Livestream and tracking footage from automated feeds like FlightRadar24 showed sparks near the landing gear just as the plane lifted off, followed by the dislodged wheel dropping away from the aircraft.
The video quickly spread across social media platforms and aviation news sites, generating a flood of reactions from both aviation enthusiasts and general viewers. Many users shared the footage with astonishment, noting the unusual nature of witnessing a major aircraft component detach mid-climb.
Aircraft Continues Transatlantic Journey Safely
Despite losing a wheel, the aircraft continued its trans-Atlantic journey without diversion, ultimately landing safely at Heathrow Airport after approximately nine hours and 17 minutes in the air. Remarkably, there were no injuries to passengers or crew, and no damage was reported to airport property at the departure site.
Aviation experts note that modern wide-body jets like the Airbus A350 are designed with multiple redundant systems, including several wheels on each main gear leg. This engineering allows them to handle situations like a missing tire without immediate danger, provided other systems remain fully functional.
Investigation and Safety Review Underway
In response to the incident, British Airways has stated that safety remains its top priority and that it is working closely with aviation authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to investigate the cause of the wheel separation. The aircraft has been taken out of service for detailed inspections and maintenance following its arrival in London.
Officials will examine whether mechanical failure, maintenance issues, or undetected defects contributed to the wheel detachment. Such investigations represent standard practice after structural or mechanical anomalies, particularly on long-haul flights where decisions about whether to continue or divert must carefully balance safety considerations, weather conditions, and available airport facilities.
Rare but Manageable Aviation Occurrence
While losing a wheel during takeoff represents a highly unusual occurrence in aviation, it is not entirely unprecedented. Wheels can detach due to various factors including defective parts, improper latching mechanisms, or substantial stress during retraction. However, most modern aircraft designs incorporate multiple safeguards to prevent catastrophic failure.
The fact that the aircraft was able to continue its journey and land without incident reflects both the resilience of modern aircraft design and the high safety standards maintained in aviation operations. Pilots, engineers, and air traffic controllers routinely train for atypical equipment scenarios and have established protocols to manage such situations effectively.
From Potential Crisis to Engineering Testament
What could have developed into a serious safety issue instead became a testament to engineering design and operational discipline. A commercial jet successfully completed a transatlantic route after losing part of its landing gear moments after takeoff. The dislodged wheel has been recovered from the Las Vegas airfield, with no injuries or property damage reported.
Aviation authorities will now thoroughly review the incident to ensure similar events remain extremely rare occurrences. Passengers and crew aboard Flight BA274 likely remained unaware of the drama unfolding outside their aircraft as the flight proceeded normally. This incident serves as a powerful reminder that in commercial aviation, even unexpected mechanical anomalies can be handled safely when established procedures and engineering systems function as designed.
