ISLAMABAD: A United Airlines passenger jet carrying 200 passengers and sixcrew members narrowly escaped a major accident at Orlando InternationalAirport in Florida when it experienced a severe mechanical failure duringlanding. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when Flight 2323 fromChicago O’Hare International Airport touched down under challenging weatherconditions featuring wind gusts up to 54 miles per hour. Eyewitness videoscaptured the aircraft bouncing violently upon touchdown, resulting in thedetachment of one nose wheel, which rolled away across the runway. Despitethe dramatic event, no injuries were reported among those on board,highlighting the effectiveness of modern aviation safety protocols inaverting catastrophe.
The flight, operated by an Airbus A321neo aircraft registered as N14502 andonly about two years old having been delivered in November 2023, departedChicago at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time and was scheduled to arrivein Orlando around midday. Upon final approach amid heavy rain, coldtemperatures and strong winds from a passing cold front, the plane made ahard landing at roughly 12:35 p.m. The impact caused the aircraft tobounce, leading to the right nose wheel separating from the landing gearstrut. This failure left the plane disabled on the active runway, unable totaxi to the gate or clear the path for other operations.
United Airlines promptly described the event as a mechanical issue uponlanding in official statements, emphasizing that all passengers and crewremained unharmed throughout the ordeal. The crew managed to bring theaircraft to a safe stop on the runway centerline without further loss ofcontrol, fire or fuel leakage. Passengers described the experience asfrightening, with the violent motion and sudden halt creating significantalarm inside the cabin. Airport authorities responded swiftly by issuing aground stop at Orlando International Airport, temporarily halting allarrivals and departures to secure the scene and remove debris.
The Federal Aviation Administration immediately launched an investigationinto the incident, focusing on the causes of the nose wheel detachment andthe hard landing dynamics. Preliminary reports suggest the extreme weather,including gusts recorded at 54 mph at the airport and up to 56 mph nearby,contributed to the rough touchdown. Aviation experts note that landing gearsystems on modern aircraft like the A321neo incorporate redundancies, withdual nose wheels designed to maintain stability even if one fails. Thisredundancy proved critical, as the aircraft stayed upright and controllabledespite the loss.
Passengers were unable to disembark directly at the terminal due to therunway blockage and were instead transported by buses after approximatelyone hour on the disabled aircraft. United Airlines coordinated theevacuation efficiently, ensuring no injuries occurred during the process.The ground stop lasted about one hour and 35 minutes before operationsresumed under a ground delay program, though cascading delays affectednumerous flights at the busy Florida hub during a peak travel period.
This event marks the second reported nose wheel separation on an A321neo inrecent months, following a similar incident involving a Frontier Airlinesaircraft in Puerto Rico in April 2025. That prior case also involved a hardlanding leading to wheel detachment and engine ingestion, though noinjuries resulted there either. Analysts are examining whether commonfactors such as pilot training for gusty conditions, maintenance protocolsfor landing gear components or potential design aspects of the AirbusA321neo under high-stress landings could be contributing to these rare butconcerning patterns on relatively new aircraft.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenges airlines face in operatingduring adverse weather, particularly in regions prone to sudden frontalpassages like central Florida. Strong crosswinds and gusts can demandprecise pilot inputs to avoid excessive sink rates or bounces, which mayoverload gear components. United Airlines has grounded the affectedaircraft pending thorough inspection and maintenance, while the FAAcontinues its probe to determine if regulatory actions or service bulletinsare warranted.
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Aviation safety remains a priority globally, with incidents like thisprompting reviews of procedures despite the absence of casualties. Thesuccessful outcome demonstrates the robustness of crew training, aircraftdesign and emergency response systems in handling unexpected mechanicalfailures.
Source:https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/united-airlines-orlando-airport-mechanical-issue
Federal Aviation Administration
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