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United Airlines flight loses front wheel during hard landing

Jan 21, 2026, 1:18 PM10
(Update: Jan 21, 2026, 1:18 PM)
American airline
city in and county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States

United Airlines flight loses front wheel during hard landing

  • The front wheel of the United Airlines flight detached during landing.
  • Passengers were safely bussed to the terminal after the incident.
  • The FAA announced an investigation into the mechanical failure.
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On January 18, 2026, a United Airlines flight arriving at Orlando International Airport from Chicago O'Hare experienced a significant incident upon landing. The aircraft, which had completed a routine two-hour journey, executed what witnesses described as a hard landing. Video footage circulating on social media shows that the rear wheels made contact with the runway first, followed by the front landing gear. Unfortunately, during this landing process, one of the front wheels detached and rolled away onto a grassy bank adjacent to the runway. In response to the incident, United Airlines stated that it was a mechanical issue that caused the front wheel to lose contact with the aircraft upon landing. Fortunately, all passengers on board were safe, and no injuries were reported. Following the incident, passengers were bussed to the terminal while airline personnel worked to remove the disabled aircraft from the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a preliminary statement confirming that the aircraft became disabled after the hard landing, indicating that they would conduct an investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure. A brief ground stop was enforced at Orlando International Airport immediately following the incident, which resulted in delays as the aircraft was being removed from the runway. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority confirmed the delays and worked in coordination with United Airlines staff to ensure the safe removal of the plane. This incident comes shortly after another serious landing mishap that occurred on January 6, 2026, when a Boeing 767 operated by Latam Airlines sustained multiple blown tires upon landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, raising concerns about safety in landing procedures for airlines. As investigations are set to begin following the incident involving United Airlines, these recent events may prompt airlines to reassess landing procedures and mechanical checks to prevent similar occurrences from happening in the future. Assessments of the incident could lead to more comprehensive reviews of maintenance protocols and safety measures in order to ensure the safety of passengers and crew during landings.

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