What should have been an ordinary Sunday landing quickly became a heart-stopping moment for passengers and onlookers alike.
A United Airlines jet coming in from Chicago shocked everyone watching when something went seriously wrong just as it touched down on the runway in Florida.
The Moment Everything Went Wrong on the Runway
The incident involved United Flight 2323, an Airbus A321neo carrying 200 passengers and six crew members.
As the plane descended toward Orlando International Airport around 12:35 p.m., everything appeared normal.
The landing gear looked properly deployed, and there was no obvious sign of trouble as the aircraft lined up with the runway.
That calm didn’t last long.
Once the rear wheels hit the ground, the aircraft’s nose slammed down hard.
The impact was so forceful that the front wheel assembly came loose, with one wheel visibly breaking away and rolling off to the right side of the plane.
Shocked Reactions Caught on Camera
The dramatic moment was captured on video, which quickly spread online.
As the jet bounced and rocked on the runway, voices behind the camera revealed just how frightening the scene was to witness.
One man could be heard blurting out an expletive as the aircraft jolted violently during the landing.
United Airlines Confirms a Mechanical Issue
United Airlines later described the incident as a “mechanical issue upon landing.”
While the aircraft was left disabled on the runway due to the hard landing, the outcome could have been far worse.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Passengers Safely Moved to the Terminal
After the aircraft came to a stop, passengers were unable to exit in the usual way.
Instead, buses were brought in to transport everyone from the disabled plane to the terminal safely.
Despite the frightening experience, all travelers made it off the aircraft without physical harm.
FAA Launches an Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it is investigating what went wrong.
Officials noted that the aircraft became disabled following the hard landing, but the exact cause of the mechanical failure has not yet been determined.
United Airlines has also been contacted for further comment as the investigation continues.
Weather Conditions Raise Questions
Online speculation quickly turned to the weather.
While nothing has been officially confirmed, conditions in Orlando that day were less than ideal.
The National Weather Service reported wind gusts reaching up to 56 mph, and flight data showed that arrivals and departures at the airport experienced some delays around the time of the incident.
A Reminder of a Past United Airlines Emergency
The Orlando landing comes months after another serious United Airlines incident.
Back in September 2025, United Flight 32 made an emergency landing after the crew was alerted to a possible fire in the cargo hold during a flight from Japan to the Philippines.
Two passengers suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital, though later inspections found no evidence that a fire had actually occurred.
What Happens Next
For now, questions remain about what caused the front wheel to fail during Flight 2323’s landing.
With the FAA investigation underway, aviation officials will be looking closely at mechanical factors, weather conditions, and flight data to determine how such a dangerous situation unfolded — and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.
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