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The ATSB has commended Canberra air traffic controllers and the crew of a Link Airways flight for a safe landing after a wheel fell off the Saab 340B.
Flight FC201 to Newcastle on 29 January 2026, operated by 27-year-old VH-VEZ, was carrying 19 passengers and three crew when the left inboard main landing gear wheel separated from the aircraft during take-off, with ATC notifying the flight crew during the climb.
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The flight crew climbed to minimum safe altitude and maintained runway heading, but could not find any applicable actions in the quick reference handbook.
“As the aircraft approached the limit of the Canberra Airport control area, the crew made the decision to return to the airport,” said ATSB director of transport safety Stuart Macleod.
“In coordination with ATC, they conducted a fly-by of the tower, which confirmed the left inboard main landing gear wheel was missing.
“ATC and the flight crew demonstrated the importance of effective communication and decision-making in managing an unexpected aircraft malfunction. In combination, their actions maintained safety margins and resulted in a safe landing.”
According to the ATSB, the crew “commenced orbits on the eastern side of the airport to allow time for landing preparation, and assessed a normal landing configuration was most appropriate”.
“Emergency services at the airport were placed on standby, and the captain declared a PAN, before the aircraft landed safely on runway 35,” the ATSB said.
The wheel was recovered from the airfield after the incident, and the ATSB determined it had fallen off due to a bearing failure.
“Due to the degree of damage sustained by the bearing components, it was not possible to determine the cause of the bearing failure,” investigators noted.
“The final report notes the operator has, as a result of the occurrence, conducted a fleet-wide inspection of main wheel assemblies and nose wheel assemblies, with no faults found.
“The operator has also implemented a proactive change to its wheel bearing maintenance schedule.”
Link Airways, which primarily operates in the eastern states and codeshares with Virgin Australia, has a fleet of 11 Saab 340Bs with an average age of 29.2 years.
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