A recent landing incident involving a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Airbus A320 has prompted a comprehensive investigation by authorities.
PIA flight PK306, operated by an Airbus A320-200, had conducted a landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on 12 March.
The flight was a scheduled service from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport (KHI).
PIA PK306 Karachi-Lahore
Following the landing in Lahore a post-flight inspection revealed that one of the aircraft’s main landing gear wheels was missing. The missing assembly was the outboard left main landing gear wheel.
There were no reported injuries among passengers or crew, and the landing had appeared to be uneventful.
Preliminary findings indicate that the missing rear main gear wheel was subsequently located at its point of departure, Karachi. The wheel assembly was reportedly located within a remote parking bay area.
This discovery has intensified the focus on pre-flight checks and maintenance procedures, aiming to pinpoint the precise moment of wheel detachment.
Flight data shows that PIA flight PK306 had departed from Jinnah International Airport around 2000 local time on 12 March.
The flight had then set course normally, climbing to FL370 for the north-westerly service to Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Descent and approach procedures were similarly conducted normally, and the landing had appeared to be uneventful.
The aircraft conducting the PK306 service from Karachi was an Airbus A320-200, registered AP-BLS. This is an 18.1 year old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Pakistan International Airlines. It has been in operational service with the airline since June 2015.
The incident has triggered dual investigative streams, with both PIA’s internal Flight Safety Department and the Bureau of Air Safety initiating inquiries.
Additionally, Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, has reportedly requested relevant data from PIA, underscoring the international attention this incident has garnered.
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