LAHORE: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched an inquiry after Flight PK-306, arriving from Karachi, landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport without one of its rear wheels.

A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the issue was discovered during a post-landing inspection, revealing that one of the aircraft’s tyres was missing, The News reported.

Though more than 14 hours have passed since the flight’s arrival, the missing wheel has not been located at either Karachi or Lahore airports. Reports indicate that the aircraft had all its wheels intact at the time of takeoff from Karachi and landed normally in Lahore. Following a notification from Lahore’s Air Traffic Control (ATC), a part of the tyre shaft was later found at the Karachi airport.

According to a preliminary statement from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the incident may have resulted from an external object striking the runway at Karachi.

The PIA spokesperson said that while the final report will determine the exact cause, initial assessments suggest that the missing wheel could have been affected by a runway fault or another external factor.

However, the aircraft’s design ensured that the landing remained safe and smooth.

A PIA investigation team has been dispatched to Lahore, while the aviation safety authorities have also initiated a formal inquiry into the incident.