By FlySafair has confirmed that its flight FA212, en route from Johannesburg to Cape Town, was compelled to return to OR Tambo International Airport due to damage to one of its wheels during take-off.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, unfolded shortly after the aircraft’s departure from OR Tambo at 11:32 am. Ground staff at the airport reported observing potential damage to one of the rear wheels of the aircraft.
FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gordon explained, “The crew were alerted to the observation, and the decision was taken to return to Johannesburg.” Following standard procedure, flight FA212 adjusted its course back to Johannesburg and entered a holding pattern near Parys to burn off fuel, lightening the aircraft for a safer landing.
Gordon elaborated, “Before landing, the aircraft made a low pass over OR Tambo so that safety and technical teams could inspect the landing gear visually.” Observers noted that one of the four rear wheels had become detached during the take-off roll. Specifically, the affected wheel was one of the two attached to the left rear landing strut.
The aircraft then entered a second holding pattern over Centurion to further diminish its fuel load before the final landing approach. Despite the wheel damage, Gordon was reassured that the aircraft was designed to safely land under such circumstances.
Approximately two-and-a-half hours after take-off, the plane landed back at OR Tambo, where response vehicles were activated as a precautionary measure. Upon landing, safety and engineering teams conducted an inspection on the runway before the aircraft was brought back to the terminal.
Passengers were promptly transferred to a backup aircraft to resume their journey to Cape Town without further delay.
FlySafair expressed gratitude for the professionalism of its crew and the cooperation of the passengers during the incident. The airline also reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards for all its flights.
Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to ascertain the cause of the wheel detachment and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
