Delta Boeing plane loses nose tire moments before takeoff: 'Rolled off the runway'
Delta flight was reportedly cleared for takeoff when aircraft lost wheel
A Delta Air Lines flight aboard a Boeing aircraft lost its nose tire moments before it was supposed to take off from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday, according to air traffic control audio posted online.
The Delta Boeing 757 was cleared for takeoff and was taxiing on the runway when one of the nose wheels came loose and rolled off the runway behind the aircraft and down an embankment, according to the audio posted online by VASAviation.
"The 75 on the runway just lost the nose tire," a pilot, who identified themselves as being on the plane behind the Boeing 757, said over the radio.
"Thanks for that … sounds like we got a problem," the 757 pilot responds.
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A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 aircraft reportedly lost a nose tire just moments before takeoff on Saturday at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images, File / Getty Images)
"Yeah, we saw that tire roll off the runway to the south," the other pilot says. "Looks like it went off the runway, probably down the bank down there."
The pilots and air traffic control can be heard discussing getting a maintenance crew out onto the runway to locate the tire as other aircraft preparing for takeoff were forced to wait behind the disabled plane.
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The aircraft reportedly sat on the runway for about three hours before getting towed away. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, File / Getty Images)
Eventually, the other planes were rerouted while the Delta Boeing 757 was forced to sit on the runway for about three hours while waiting to be towed, according to VASAviation.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | DELTA AIR LINES INC. | 51.56 | +0.53 | +1.04% |
| BA | THE BOEING CO. | 179.79 | +0.94 | +0.53% |
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by passenger trafffic. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria / Reuters Photos)
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Both Boeing and Hartsfield-Jackson airport told FOX Business that they have deferred to Delta for comment. Delta did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.