This Article is From Oct 22, 2013

Vietnam grounds flights after a plane's tire falls of midair

Hanoi, Vietnam: Vietnam Airlines has grounded all 14 of its ATR-72 planes after a front tire fell off one of the jets midflight, says media reports.

Reports said the twin-engine turboprop flying from the northern port city of Hai Phong to Danang in central Vietnam landed safely Monday.

All 14 of the planes operated by Vietnam Airlines have been grounded.

The plane, manufactured by French-Italian aircraft company ATR, was carrying 41 passengers and crew.

An ATR-72 operated by Lao Airlines crashed in southern Laos during a heavy storm last week. All 49 people on board are presumed dead.

Tien Phong reported Tuesday that Vietnamese authorities asked ATR to join the investigation into the incident.

Vietnam Airlines was not available to comment.

The aircraft passed a technical check last month.

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