AI flight had holes in body

[question everything]

AI flight had holes in body

The Times of India

LOS ANGELES: A preliminary investigation has found that the Air-India jetliner that landed in a plume of sparks at Los Angeles International Airport last month had several holes punched into its fuselage by shrapnel from its blown landing gear.

Federal investigators examining the plane said they found holes and punctures in its lower fuselage, apparently caused by pieces of the landing gear as it flew apart. Two of the holes were approximately two feet around, according to the preliminary report of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Air India flight 136, bound for Frankfurt, Germany, landed safely after four of the tires on its right landing gear burst as it lifted off on December 19. None of the 273 passengers and crew members on board was hurt.

(snip)

The jet circled offshore and dumped fuel, then returned to the airport. Its emergency landing was shown live on television, sparks erupting from its maimed right landing gear as it touched down. The report does not offer a reason for the four tires on the landing gear to blow.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1362574,curpg-1.cms

[benburch]

1. Sounds like braking system failure.

If the brakes seized up suddenly during takeoff, the tires would likely have been heated past their bursting point. And when they landed, the wheels would still not have been able to turn.