Singapore’s Low-Cost Carrier Scoot encountered an unexpected incident during a recent flight, as one of its planes landed in Taipei with a missing wheel, according to reports from the Central News Agency and TVBS News.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, operating flight TR897 from Seoul to Taipei, experienced a technical fault during landing on June 19. Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport witnessed the safe landing of the aircraft shortly after midnight.
The mishap was discovered when it became apparent that the left nose wheel of the aircraft was missing upon inspection.
Normally, the landing gear of this aircraft model consists of two wheels under the nose to facilitate maneuvering on the runway.
With over 300 passengers onboard, the flight was reported to have encountered abnormal tire pressure prior to descent.
Astonishingly, only the right nose wheel remained intact, while the metal rim of the left wheel had fallen off. Additionally, the left wheel shaft was found to be damaged.
The exact location of the missing wheel remains uncertain, as it was not recovered on the runway by Taoyuan International Airport Corporation.
Due to the unfortunate circumstances, the subsequent flight from Taipei to Singapore had to be cancelled. Originally scheduled for 1:30 a.m. with an expected arrival time in Singapore at 5:55 a.m., the affected passengers were provided with necessary assistance, including accommodation and refunds, according to reports.
Scoot expressed their regrets and apologized for the distress and inconvenience caused by the missing wheel incident. They reassured the public that the safety of their passengers and crew remains their utmost priority, and they will continue to extend support to those affected.
Meanwhile, investigations into the incident have been initiated by Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration, led by Transport Minister Wang Kuo-tsai.
The damaged aircraft awaits the availability of replacement parts for necessary repairs. A replacement flight was arranged to accommodate the remaining passengers, scheduled to depart Taipei at 8:45 p.m. on the same day.