No One Hurt as Jet Loses Wheels During Takeoff
A Mexicana Air jet headed for Mexico City lost its wheels just before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, skidding nose-first for 200 yards before coming to a stop, city fire officials said.
There were no reported injuries or fires aboard the A-320 Airbus. But the lurching created chaos among the 157 passengers and crew aboard the twin-engine commercial jet, said Fire Department spokesman Mike Little.
“This was an emergency--wheels coming off a plane during takeoff,” Little said. “No doubt, passengers were shaken.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, Little said.
Flight 901 was taxiing along a secondary runway when the incident occurred about 3:25 p.m., Little said. The plane’s two front wheels came off, forcing the aircraft to pitch over onto its nose.
More than a dozen pieces of firefighting equipment responded, but officials decided evacuation chutes were not necessary and passengers were allowed to get off the plane on ladders provided by firefighters. The plane was towed off the runway.
Passengers were bused back to the terminal and placed on other flights.
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