A transport ministry investigation panel suspects low air pressure in the right tire of a Japan Airlines Corp. jetliner's nose gear was too low, causing it and the left tire to blow and the wheels to eventually break off on landing Wednesday at Tokyo's Haneda airport, officials said.
The tires of the JAL's Boeing 767-600 came off on landing Wednesday morning, causing the nose wheels to be destroyed as the plane came to a stop on the runway.
The ministry's Aircraft and Railway Accident Investigation Committee believes the air pressure on the right tire was too low, causing the tire to rupture and come off on impact with the ground, according to the officials.
The damage on the right tire found on the taxiway indicated it had low pressure when it touched the ground, the officials said.
The committee said it was possible the nitrogen gas in the tire leaked out due to small cracks on the right wheel, a problem with the tire itself or poor maintenance, according to the officials.
Committee investigators suspect that after the right tire came off, the left tire burst under the full weight of the aircraft.
Two of the 210 passengers on the JAL Flight, which was arriving from New Chitose Airport, reported neck pain.
After checking the damage, JAL said Wednesday evening that the left tire had apparently ruptured.