Plane forced to make emergency landing in Israel after 'part of wheel falls off'

El Al flight 2521 left for Prague as scheduled this morning but did not reach the Czech capital.

Tracking data showed the Boeing 737-800 doing a U-turn around Yalvac, in Turkey, to return to Israel and doing several figure-eights around Ben Gurion International Airport before it could safely land. Flightradar24 data showed the plane doing a U-turn and flying back to Israel.

Airline El Al, Israel’s flag carrier, told Haaretz the pilot decide to turn the plane around after detecting a ruptured right wheel.

Parts of the tyre had been found on the runway after take-off, the Israel Airports Authority announced.

El Al flight #LY2521 landed safely at Tel Aviv airport with suspected wheel issue. (Pic via http://t.co/ET5ENuvhXS) pic.twitter.com/rnGUtreKLb

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 21, 2015

The plane has now safely landed with 181 passengers and crew on board and was photographed being surrounded by fire engines.

Travellers are expected to be transferred to another flight.

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