A British Airways Airbus A350 lost one of its main landing gear tires shortly after takeoff from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on January 26, 2026, but safely completed the 5,400-mile journey to London Heathrow with all 333 passengers and crew unharmed.  

Flight tracker Flightradar24 captured footage showing the BA274 aircraft taking off, shortly after which an object—later confirmed as the right rear wheel of the landing gear—fell to the ground. The incident was immediately flagged on Flightradar24’s automated live stream at the airport.  

Despite the loss of the wheel, the flight crew continued the transatlantic journey without incident, successfully landing at London Heathrow. British Airways confirmed the separation of the main landing gear tire and emphasized that no injuries or operational issues were reported during the flight.  

Authorities are investigating the cause of the wheel detachment. Experts note that modern commercial aircraft like the Airbus A350 are designed with multiple redundancies in the landing gear system, allowing flights to continue safely even in the unlikely event of a tire or wheel separation.  

The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of aircraft maintenance procedures, as well as the monitoring of landing gear systems to ensure continued safety on long-haul flights. Passengers and aviation observers have praised the flight crew for handling the situation safely and professionally, preventing what could have been a catastrophic outcome.