PAL Airlines Flight PB901 Loses Wheel at Wabush

PAL Airlines flight PB901 lost a wheel on landing at Wabush Airport in Labrador on October 30, 2026. No injuries were reported. The aircraft reached the terminal, and the airline sent another plane to carry travelers onward.

PAL spokesperson Joseph Galimberti told CBC News that a wheel bearing failed during landing. He said the airline had contacted Transport Canada and would examine what happened. The airline has not identified the underlying cause.

A wheel comes off after touchdown at Wabush

Seconds after touchdown on Friday morning, a wheel detached from the landing gear. CBC producer Lee Pitts, a passenger aboard PB901, recorded the separation. Despite the failure, he said the landing felt smooth. Passengers disembarked without reported injuries.

Earlier in the journey, Pitts noticed unusual wheel movement. He also described something that could have been smoke or steam. However, those observations do not establish when the defect developed. They cannot determine whether the bearing, brakes or another component caused the visible signs.

AeroCorner reported the incident on October 31, drawing on the original CBC account. Its coverage also cites the airline’s statement about the replacement aircraft.

PAL sends a second plane for affected passengers

PAL dispatched another aircraft to continue the travelers’ journey. That decision kept the damaged plane out of the next passenger service. It also meant customers had to wait for replacement transportation.

The airline has not disclosed how many people were aboard or how long their journeys were delayed. Nor has it detailed the effect on later flights. Those figures matter on regional routes, where passengers may have fewer same-day alternatives.

For affected travelers, the immediate priority is a confirmed replacement itinerary. PAL can provide updated departure, connection and baggage information. Meanwhile, Transport Canada identifies PAL as one of the airlines serving Wabush Airport.

What the airline’s bearing explanation establishes

A wheel bearing allows a wheel to rotate around its axle. If the bearing fails, the wheel may no longer turn normally. PAL has identified a bearing failure, but its statement does not explain the sequence of events.

Flight-tracking records list a De Havilland Dash 8-400 for PB901 that day. However, the aircraft’s registration has not been independently established. The accompanying photograph shows another PAL Airlines airplane, not the incident aircraft.

Landing-gear failures can also differ substantially. For example, Cargolux ordered checks following a separate landing-gear collapse involving a parked Boeing 747 freighter. That case provides context, not evidence of a fleet-wide problem at PAL.

What investigators still need to establish

PAL said it had contacted Transport Canada. The airline has not published an inspection report explaining why the bearing failed. Separately, no formal Transportation Safety Board investigation number has been confirmed for PB901.

Maintenance records and examination of the damaged parts could clarify the failure. Until investigators establish those facts, the central outcome stands: PB901 landed without reported injuries, and PAL arranged onward transportation.