As the aircraft climbed after takeoff, video footage showed a wheel detaching from the rear section of the landing gear and dropping from the aircraft.
A video footage has captured the moment a wheel fell off a British Airways aircraft shortly after it took off from Las Vegas, United States, raising concerns about aircraft safety even as the flight continued without incident to its destination in London.
The incident involved what is believed to be a London-bound Airbus A350-1000 that departed Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas at about 9:10pm local time on Monday.
As the aircraft climbed after takeoff, video footage showed a wheel detaching from the rear section of the landing gear and dropping from the aircraft.
The footage, which has since circulated widely online, shows a shadowy object falling away moments after the plane became airborne, sparking questions about how the aircraft would manage the transatlantic journey without one of its wheels.
Despite the incident, flight tracking data from flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft continued its scheduled journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
The plane landed safely in London 27 minutes earlier than its scheduled arrival time, according to the tracking data.
The cause of the wheel separation was not immediately known.
British Airways confirmed the incident in a statement and said it was cooperating with investigators.
The airline said: "Safety and security underpins everything we do and we're supporting the authorities with their investigations."
Authorities at Harry Reid International Airport also acknowledged the incident, stressing that it did not result in injuries or damage on the ground.
In a statement, the airport said it was "aware of an incident involving a British Airways aircraft that departed LAS last night and continued on to London, where it landed safely without further incident".
The airport added that the detached tyre was later recovered from the airfield. Officials said there were no reported injuries and no damage to airport property as a result of the incident.
Aviation authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the wheel separation, including inspections of the aircraft and a review of the takeoff sequence. British Airways said it would continue to support the relevant authorities as investigations proceed.
The incident comes amid heightened global attention on aviation safety, particularly involving aircraft components and maintenance procedures, though officials have not suggested any broader implications at this stage.