British Airways Flight Loses Wheel on Takeoff from Las Vegas | WATCH
A British Airways A350 successfully crossed the Atlantic after losing a rear wheel during a high-speed takeoff in Las Vegas. Despite sparks flying on the runway and a 5,200-mile journey with missing gear, flight BA274 touched down safely at London Heathrow without a single injury reported.
A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 aircraft safely completed a 5,200-mile flight from Las Vegas to London Heathrow despite losing one of its main landing gear wheels shortly after takeoff, according to aviation tracking service Flightradar24 and multiple reports.
The incident occurred on Monday evening, January 26, 2026, involving flight BA274, operated by aircraft registration G-XWBN.
Video footage captured by Flightradar24's automated live stream at Harry Reid International Airport shows the right rear wheel detaching from the plane's landing gear as it accelerated down the runway, with sparks visible during the separation.
The detached tire was quickly recovered from the airfield by airport officials, with no reported injuries or damage to airport property.
Despite the loss, the flight proceeded across the Atlantic Ocean without interruption, lasting approximately 10 hours, and landed safely at Heathrow Airport.
Aviation experts note that the Airbus A350's landing gear design includes multiple wheels per bogie, providing redundancy that likely allowed the aircraft to operate normally without the pilots being alerted by onboard systems.
All passengers and crew were unharmed.
British Airways has confirmed the event and stated that it is investigating the cause, which could stem from a maintenance issue or a defect in the wheel assembly.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to review the matter as part of standard procedures for incidents involving U.S. departures.
No disruptions to other flights at Harry Reid International Airport were reported.