This article summarizes reporting by Flightradar24 and Ian Petchenik.

British Airways A350-1000 Completes Transatlantic Flight After Losing Wheel on Departure

On Monday, January 26, 2026, a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 lost a wheel from its main landing gear assembly during departure from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Despite the mechanical failure, the flight crew elected to continue the 10-hour journey to London Heathrow (LHR), where the aircraft landed safely the following afternoon.

Visual evidence of the incident was captured and reported by Flightradar24. According to their data and video footage, the right-rear wheel of the right main landing gear detached as the aircraft retracted its gear shortly after takeoff. The flight, designated BA274, proceeded to climb to a cruising altitude of 39,000 feet and completed the crossing without further incident.

We have compiled the details of this event, the operational decisions made by the crew, and the technical context regarding the safety of the Airbus A350-1000.

Incident Timeline and Visual Evidence

Flight BA274 departed Las Vegas runway 26R at approximately 9:06 PM PST. Reporting by Flightradar24 highlights that sparks were visible coming from the gear assembly just before the wheel separated. The wheel fell to the ground as the gear doors were closing, a sequence captured on a live stream camera operated by the flight tracking service.

According to airport officials cited in general reporting, the detached wheel was recovered on airport property in Las Vegas. It reportedly caused no damage to ground infrastructure or other aircraft. The aircraft involved, registered as G-XWBN, is a high-capacity wide-body jet that had been scheduled for the 5,200-mile service to the United Kingdom.

Operational Decision: Why the Flight Continued

Following the separation of the wheel, the pilots decided to continue to London rather than dumping fuel and returning immediately to Las Vegas. While such a decision may appear risky to casual observers, it aligns with standard operating procedures for modern long-haul aircraft equipped with redundant landing gear systems.

Upon arrival in London on Tuesday, January 27, the aircraft landed on runway 09L at 14:28 GMT. AirLive.net reported that the aircraft taxied to Terminal 5 under its own power. Emergency services met the aircraft as a precaution,standard protocol for landing gear irregularities,but no intervention was required, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.

AirPro News Analysis: Engineering Redundancy

In our analysis of the A350-1000’s design, the decision to continue the flight highlights the significant engineering redundancy built into this specific airframe. Unlike smaller narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, which typically feature two wheels per main gear strut, the A350-1000 utilizes a six-wheel bogie design.

With six wheels on each side, the aircraft has a total of 12 main landing gear wheels. The loss of a single wheel represents a reduction in braking and load-bearing capacity that is well within the safety margins calculated by Airbus. The remaining 11 wheels are capable of supporting the aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight, which can exceed 300 tonnes. Consequently, while a lost wheel is a serious maintenance lapse, it does not typically constitute a critical flight safety emergency for this aircraft type.

Aftermath and Industry Context

The aircraft, G-XWBN, was removed from service immediately upon arrival at Heathrow for inspection and repairs. British Airways has not yet issued a detailed public statement regarding the specific cause of the failure, such as whether it was a bearing failure or a torque issue.

Similar incidents, while rare, have occurred across the industry. For instance, reporting notes that a United Airlines Boeing 757 lost a wheel departing Los Angeles in July 2024. In that instance, the aircraft diverted to Denver. The successful conclusion of flight BA274 underscores the effectiveness of modern aviation safety standards, which ensure aircraft remain controllable and safe even when mechanical components fail.

Sources

• Flightradar24
• AirLive.net