A Ryanair commercial aircraft experienced simultaneous failure of all four tyres on its main landing gear assembly during a landing procedure at a Milan airport in October 2024, according to findings released by aviation safety investigators.
The incident, which occurred during touchdown at the Italian aviation facility, resulted in the complete burst of every tyre fitted to the aircraft’s primary undercarriage system. Aviation safety authorities have initiated a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the multiple tyre failures, which represent an unusual occurrence in commercial aviation operations.
Ryanair, Ireland’s largest airline and Europe’s leading low-cost carrier headquartered in Dublin, operates an extensive network of routes connecting Ireland to continental Europe. The airline maintains oversight from Irish aviation regulators and falls under the operational jurisdiction of Enterprise Ireland’s supported aviation sector. The carrier’s fleet primarily consists of Boeing 737 aircraft, though the specific aircraft type involved in the Milan incident has not been officially confirmed in preliminary investigation reports.
Simultaneous failure of all main landing gear tyres during touchdown represents a significant safety event requiring comprehensive investigation by aviation authorities. Landing gear systems are engineered with substantial redundancy measures, making the concurrent failure of multiple tyres statistically uncommon. Such events typically prompt detailed examination of landing approach parameters, runway conditions, aircraft weight distribution, tyre maintenance records, and operational procedures.
The investigation will likely examine multiple factors that could contribute to such an occurrence, including approach speed, descent rate, runway surface conditions, weather parameters at the time of landing, aircraft loading, and the maintenance history of the affected tyres. Aviation safety protocols require thorough documentation of such incidents to identify potential systemic issues and implement corrective measures across the aviation industry.
Italy’s aviation safety investigators are conducting the primary investigation, as the incident occurred within Italian jurisdiction. However, given Ryanair’s Irish registration and operational base, Irish aviation authorities maintain interest in the investigation’s findings and any safety recommendations that may emerge.
Ryanair has established itself as a dominant force in European budget aviation since its transformation into a low-cost carrier in the 1990s. The airline carries over 150 million passengers annually across hundreds of European routes, maintaining one of the continent’s youngest and most standardized fleets. This operational scale means the airline conducts thousands of takeoffs and landings daily across its network.
The October 2024 incident at Milan represents the type of operational safety event that undergoes rigorous analysis within the aviation industry’s comprehensive safety management systems. Commercial airlines operating from Ireland must comply with stringent European Aviation Safety Agency regulations, which mandate detailed reporting and investigation of all safety-related occurrences.
Modern aircraft landing gear systems incorporate multiple tyres to distribute landing forces and provide operational redundancy. The simultaneous failure of all main gear tyres suggests an exceptional set of circumstances that investigators will work to reconstruct through flight data recorder analysis, cockpit voice recorder examination, physical inspection of the damaged tyres, and review of operational documentation.
While the investigation continues, preliminary findings have not indicated any injuries to passengers or crew members. The aircraft’s pilots successfully managed the landing despite the tyre failures, demonstrating the effectiveness of crew training and aircraft design safety margins. Standard procedures following such incidents typically include removing the aircraft from service pending thorough inspection and investigation completion.
The aviation safety investigation process typically requires several months to complete, with preliminary reports often released within weeks followed by comprehensive final reports that include detailed technical analysis and safety recommendations. Industry observers will monitor the investigation’s progress for insights that may inform maintenance procedures, operational practices, or equipment specifications across the commercial aviation sector.
Ryanair has not released detailed public statements regarding the specific operational circumstances of the October landing, consistent with standard industry practice during ongoing safety investigations. The airline’s cooperation with investigating authorities forms part of the comprehensive safety framework governing European commercial aviation operations.