British Airways A350 Loses Wheel After Takeoff From Las Vegas; Flight Lands Safely

A British Airways Airbus A350-1000 lost a wheel from its main landing gear shortly after departing from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Monday evening, aviation officials say. The aircraft, operating as flight BA274 to London Heathrow Airport, continued its scheduled journey and landed safely in the United Kingdom more than nine hours later, with no reported injuries to passengers, crew, or people on the ground.

The incident occurred as the aircraft climbed after takeoff. Live airport cameras and flight tracking services captured video showing sparks near the right landing gear before one of the rear wheels detached and fell within the airport perimeter. Airport officials said the detached wheel was later recovered, and no damage to airport property was reported.

British Airways confirmed the loss of the wheel and said it is cooperating with authorities as investigations proceed. A spokesperson for the airline said safety and security remain top priorities. The airline and aviation agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board, have been notified and are reviewing the circumstances.

Flight data shows the aircraft took off from Las Vegas late Monday and climbed to cruising altitude before continuing over the Atlantic. It landed at London Heathrow on Tuesday afternoon without further incident. Officials noted that modern long-haul aircraft are designed to operate safely even with the loss of a single wheel.