Smartwings B738 at Cologne and Rhodes on Jul 17th 2025, tyre damage

Last Update: November 7, 2025 / 17:32:17 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 17, 2025

Classification
Incident

Airline
Eurowings

Flight number
EW-658

Departure
Cologne, Germany

Destination
Kos, Greece

Aircraft Registration
OK-TSU

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

An Smartwings Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Eurowings, registration OK-TSU performing flight EW-658 from Cologne (Germany) to Kos (Greece), departed Cologne's runway 31R when some anomaly was observed with one the tyres. The aircraft continued, climbed to FL350 and entered a hold near Kos at FL150 before deciding to divert to Rhodes, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 24. One of the left main tyres was found damaged.

On Nov 7th 2025 Czechia's UZPLN reported the crew did not report any anomly during takeoff and gear retraction, just a flight attendant had noticed some unusual vibration just before and after becoming airborne. About one hour prior to estimated arrival at Kos the crew was informed by ATC, tyre debris and metal debris had been found on their departure runway 31R. Considering their options the crew decided to divert to Rhodes for the longer runway and service options.

The UZPLN described the damage: The outer tyre of the left main landing gear became damaged, parts of the rotating partially torn-off tread broke off and damaged the inner gear cover rod, causing the cover to separate and ultimately the outer cover to also to separate. One of the covers was thrown into inner of the left hand engine's (CFM56) exhaust nozzle partially deforming it. There was also damage to the lower side of the wing and the flaps in the area behind the left main landing gear. Traces of tyre parts were also found on the left elevator. Both left main wheels and their brakes were replaced, the landing gear covers replaced, the left engine exhaust nozzle replaced, then the aircraft was cleared for a technical flight to the maintenance center, where repairs were completed.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jul 17, 2025

Classification
Incident

Airline
Eurowings

Flight number
EW-658

Departure
Cologne, Germany

Destination
Kos, Greece

Aircraft Registration
OK-TSU

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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