On April 23rd, according to reports from CCTV News, on April 21st local time, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South African airline Safair experienced the detachment of a wheel from the left main landing gear during takeoff from Johannesburg.
The aircraft returned and landed approximately 2 and a half hours after takeoff. It's reported that there were no injuries to passengers or crew, and the cause of the accident is currently under investigation.
It's noteworthy that Boeing aircraft safety incidents have been occurring frequently in recent months.
A similar incident of a wheel falling off the landing gear occurred just a month and a half ago—on March 7th this year, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft operated by United Airlines, flying from San Francisco, USA, to Osaka, Japan, experienced the detachment of a wheel from the left main landing gear shortly after takeoff, prompting an emergency landing at Los Angeles Airport.
As the aircraft had not yet left the airport area, the tire fell onto the ground parking lot, causing damage to several vehicles.
Additionally, incidents have included the detachment of a door plug (inset emergency door) mid-flight on a Boeing 737 MAX 9, engine fires in-flight on Boeing 737-800s, and hydraulic oil leakage from the landing gear of a Boeing 777-300.
In March of this year, a former Boeing employee was found deceased in a hotel parking lot in the United States, with investigations currently underway.
Reports indicate that in the days leading up to his passing, the former employee had raised concerns about Boeing's production standards and safety issues, acting as a whistleblower in legal actions against the company.
