The Air Canada flight from Montreal lost its wheel down the runway before take-off but the pilot is believed to have continued with the flight without noticing.
The plane an Airbus A330 then arrived at Heathrow with one of the rear tyres missing but somehow managed to land without any complications.
.@AirCanada #AC864 Airbus A330 lost wheel departing Montreal (Apr 16). Landed safely in London. Wheel found end of YUL Rwy 06L ?TheSunUK pic.twitter.com/ngTBVjWg7B
— Tom Podolec CTV News (@TomPodolec) April 17, 2017
An Air Canada spokesman said the wheel is believed to have fallen off the bearing on the runway in Montreal.
“None of the passengers knew what had happened and neither did the pilot, he was in shock when he landed and was told about the wheel.”
The plane is now grounded at Heathrow while it is inspected and repaired.
A spokesman for Air Canada told “Preliminary information indicates that a wheel separated from the aircraft while taxiing down the runway before take-off in Montreal and came to rest beside the runway.
“As the landing gear is comprised of 8 wheels, this had no impact on the safe operation of the flight.
“Flight AC864 an A330 with 294 passengers on board landed normally in London and taxied to the gate.
“Passengers on the returning flight are being re-booked on other flights later today while the aircraft is being repaired.”
