Why did a T'way Air jet lose a wheel landing in Taiwan?

A T'way Air jet lost a wheel. It landed at Taiwan Taoyuan Airport. The flight arrived from Jeju Island.

The incident happened on Sunday afternoon. No one was hurt during landing. The plane taxied to the gate.

Flight TW687 used a Boeing 737-800. It touched down at 3:52 PM. A right main tire detached then.

Ground crews found the wheel later. It rolled across the north runway. Pilots kept the aircraft under control.

Airport officials closed the north runway. This lasted for about 100 minutes. They had to clear all debris.

Many other flights faced long delays. Fourteen total flights were affected then. Some planes waited on the taxiway.

Three flights declared fuel emergencies later. They were holding in the air. They landed safely at the airport.

The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board is investigating. They are checking the plane's records. Maintenance teams will look for fatigue.

Investigators want to find the cause. They will check the axle torque. They will also check the bolts.

Safety is the top priority here. Wheel loss is a rare event. It can cause major runway damage.

Airport teams performed a FOD sweep. They checked for small metal parts. This ensures other planes stay safe.

T'way Air apologized for the delay. They are helping with the probe. The jet remains grounded for now.

Aviation experts watch these cases closely. They help improve maintenance safety rules. New protocols may come from this.

Taoyuan Airport is a busy hub. One runway closure causes big problems. Air traffic control managed the flow.

Passengers were moved to other flights. Operations returned to normal by evening. The investigation will take some time.

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