Reports on T--witter and Facebook says that Icelandair flight ICE689 to Orlando may have lost a wheel on take off from Keflavik Airport. The aircraft is now preparing for an emergency landing on Keflavik Airport. Flightradar24.com - Live Flight Tracker! (http://www.flightradar24.com/ICE689)

TV: RÚV | RÚV (http://www.ruv.is/ruv/)

.... but seem to be missing a wheel on LH undercarraige :D

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac246/dxer_2009/puncture.jpg

An engineer handing his stamp in tomorrow!

Here is a better view:
http://www.dv.is/media/news/story/image/410796_3217034748153_1334895953_32470260_1911123083_o_jpg_800x800_sharpen_q95.jpg

Many years ago I was at the hold at AMS when a locally based 73 lined up and started his take-off roll. As he turned onto the runway, a wheel came off (one of the nose wheels (IIRC) and rolled into the grass. I told the tower that the aircraft on the roll had lost a wheel and after what seemed an eternity, we saw the brakes applied and the aircraft came to a stop.
In case of debris, the runway was closed and we had to taxy for what seemed several miles - but never mind.
Many moons later, I received a parcel from Holland. It was a model 73 with a note from the airline thanking me for saving them from what could have been a rather unpleasant incident.
One of my sons made up the model - but a wheel came off!
Many years later I went to work for that company and on my last flight, we had to divert and night stop. The adjoining room party, from the same airline, was in full swing. The captain turned out to have been in command on the wheel-less take-off.
Just a little vignette.:D

An engineer handing his stamp in tomorrow!

very Presumptuous of you.

As an SLF, do plane wheels have locking tabs or wire to hold on the nuts/bolts?

They have a torque loaded axle nut, once in place that will usually be locked in place by maybe a not and bolt which is then locked with wire, finally the cover will be bolted on and normally those bolts are wirelocked too.

These are pretty much standard for aircraft I have worked on....

I have seen two wheels come off.
First was a Trisent nosewheel at LHR where I was in the car park on the Northside and saw thw wheel hit the fence.
Second was a GF Tristar which lost a nosewheel on take off at LHR, and continued overnight to BAH.
I remember the comment by the Ops Manager, Well we authorise you to land at BAH!
What else would he do?

Anyway both these events were axle failures. Nothing wrong with the nuts.

About seven years ago one of our aircraft lost a nosewheel on take off due to bearing failure. The evidence compiled within the AAIB investigation found no fault as far as previous engineering action was concerned. I can't see how it can be suggested that this incident was the result of engineering error based on a couple of photos and in the absence of any facts.

About seven years ago one of our aircraft lost a nosewheel on take off due to bearing failure. The evidence compiled within the AAIB investigation found no fault as far as previous engineering action was concerned. I can't see how it can be suggested that this incident was the result of engineering error based on a couple of photos and in the absence of any facts.

It's usually the sort of theory postulated by people that don't understand wheel bearings and how they work, etc.

We had a nosewheel depart a DC-10 on rotation many years ago. Subsequent investigation revealed that last time that wheel assy went through the workshop a bearing from a wheel assy from another fleet type was accidently fitted to the inner bearing position. Over time this bearing failed and the (correct) outer bearing eventually decided it had had enough of doing all the work and failed too. The wheel assy came off over the lock washer and wheel nut and departed. The nut was still in place with locking bolt on the axle on arrival. Point being the engineer fitting the wheel fitted the wheel assembly with a servicable label correctly per the amm. The fault was within the assembly itself.