A United Airlines flight carrying more than 200 people had a narrow escape at Orlando International Airport after suffering a mechanical failure during landing that caused the aircraft to lose its front wheel. The incident, captured in a viral video, occurred as the Airbus A321 was landing after flying from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Orlando.
According to reports, the aircraft experienced trouble while touching down, resulting in the loss of the front wheel and blocking the runway. Passengers were immediately evacuated from the plane as a safety precaution. United Airlines confirmed that no injuries were reported among the 200 passengers and six crew members on board.
Following the incident, United Airlines arranged buses to transport passengers to the airport terminal and deployed technical teams to remove the aircraft from the runway. Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) crews were also rushed to the scene as a precautionary measure.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary ground stop at Orlando International Airport due to the emergency, which was later downgraded to a ground delay. Several flights were delayed as a result of the runway blockage.
While the exact cause of the mechanical glitch remains under investigation, adverse weather conditions are being considered as a possible factor. Orlando experienced rainy, cold and extremely windy conditions at the time of the incident, with wind gusts reaching up to 54 mph at Orlando International Airport and 56 mph at the nearby Orlando Executive Airport. The National Weather Service has since issued a high wind warning for parts of Florida’s east coast.
