Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched an inquiry after flight PK 306, traveling from Karachi to Lahore, landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport without one of its wheels.
A PIA spokesperson revealed that the issue came to light during a post-landing inspection, which confirmed that one of the rear tires was missing.
Despite over 14 hours passing since the flight’s arrival, the missing wheel remains untraceable at both Karachi and Lahore airports. According to sources, the tire was intact when the aircraft took off from Karachi, and the plane executed a normal landing and taxiing at Lahore airport. Following a notification from Lahore’s Air Traffic Control (ATC), a part of the tire shaft was later discovered at Karachi airport.
In a statement issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), initial observations suggest that the incident “may have occurred due to a possible external object striking the runway at Karachi.”
A PIA spokesperson further confirmed, “After the flight from Karachi landed in Lahore, one of the wheels was found to be missing. The PIA Flight Safety Department, along with CAA, immediately initiated an investigation into the matter.”
While the final report is yet to determine the exact cause of the incident, preliminary findings indicate that the missing wheel might have been damaged due to a fault on the runway or an external factor.
However, PIA assured that the aircraft “made a smooth and safe landing in Lahore, and the plane’s design ensures that such an incident does not compromise aviation safety.”
A PIA team has been dispatched to Lahore to investigate the unusual wheel-less landing, while aviation and safety authorities have also begun their inquiry into the matter.
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