Boeing Co (NYSE:BA, ETR:BCO) is under the regulatory spotlight once again after a Japan-bound United Airlines 777 was forced to divert on Thursday, having lost a tyre after taking off in San Francisco.
Flight UAL35 safely landed in Los Angeles following the incident, having been due to head to Kansai International Airport near Osaka, Japan.
America’s Federal Aviation Administration has since confirmed it has launched an investigation, with Boeing already facing heavy scrutiny after a door panel fell from one of its shorter-haul 737 Max 9s mid-flight in January.
Debris from the fallen tyre is said to have fallen into an employee car park, damaging several vehicles, while San Francisco's runway briefly also closed for a clean-up, according to the airport’s Doug Yakel.
As per United Airlines, to which Boeing deferred comment, the 777-200 is designed to land safely if missing any of the six tyres on each of its main landing gear struts.
“United flight 35 lost one tyre after takeoff from San Francisco and landed at LAX,” the airline confirmed, meanwhile.
“Our team quickly arranged for a new aircraft to take customers to Osaka this evening.
"We’re grateful to our pilots and flight attendants for their professionalism in managing this situation.”