United Airlines Plane L0ses Nose Wheel During St0rmy Landing At U.S. Airport
United Airlines Plane Loses Nose Wheel During Stormy Landing At U.S. Airport
The Traveler reports that the aircraft, operating as United flight 2323 from Chicago O’Hare, was carrying about 200 passengers and six crew members when it encountered intense wind gusts and heavy rain while landing in Orlando on January 18, 2026.
AUnited Airlines Airbus A321neo suffered a dramatic landing mishap at Orlando International Airport on Sunday after its nose wheel broke off during a storm-battered touchdown, forcing a temporary shutdown of runways at one of America’s busiest tourist hubs.
The Traveler reports that the aircraft, operating as United flight 2323 from Chicago O’Hare, was carrying about 200 passengers and six crew members when it encountered intense wind gusts and heavy rain while landing in Orlando on January 18, 2026.
Videos widely circulated on social media show the jet slamming onto the wet runway, bouncing violently and swerving as it slowed, before one of its nose wheels visibly detached and rolled away across the tarmac. Emergency responders rushed to the scene as airport authorities ordered a ground stop, halting arrivals and departures and causing delays during a peak travel period.
Despite the frightening incident, United Airlines said no injuries were recorded. Passengers were later evacuated from the aircraft on the runway and transported back to the terminal by buses.
According to the report, eyewitnesses described the landing as “terrifying,” with passengers reporting a hard impact followed by a sudden forward lurch. Some said they only realised the severity of the situation when the aircraft remained stationary on the runway and the captain announced damage to the nose gear.
Weather conditions at the time were said to be severe. Wind gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour were reported across central Florida as a powerful winter storm system swept through the region, raising fresh concerns about airline operations in extreme weather.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed it is investigating the incident, while aviation safety experts are scrutinising whether the nose wheel failure was caused by the hard landing, possible mechanical issues, or a combination of both. Investigators are expected to analyse flight data, cockpit voice recordings and maintenance records.
United Airlines confirmed the aircraft has been withdrawn from service pending inspections and said it is cooperating fully with regulators. The airline described the incident as a “landing incident” and stressed that safety protocols worked as designed.
The episode adds to growing public attention on landing gear failures involving commercial aircraft, coming amid heightened scrutiny of airline safety practices and operations under increasingly extreme weather conditions.
Airport operations in Orlando were later restored after the damaged aircraft was removed from the runway.
WATCH: United Airlines Plane Loses Nose Wheel During Stormy Landing At U.S. Airport pic.twitter.com/sZh6cZyrKH
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 19, 2026
