Mystery as British Airways A380 plane lands in London with square tire
Out of shape: Experts said there was no danger to passengers.
Story highlights
Incredible photo emerges of an Airbus A380 with a square tire
The British Airways plane landed in London from Hong Kong
Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson 'not seen anything like it before'
(CNN) Square eggs, square watermelons and now ... square tires?
Here's an aviation mystery to sit alongside the Bermuda Triangle and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart.
A British Airways Airbus A380 set off from Hong Kong on May 5 with 22 round wheels - but apparently touched down at London Heathrow with a bizarre square-shaped tire.
This extraordinary photo was uncovered by aviation news site The Aviation Herald, which reported that the British Airways crew received a tire pressure warning shortly after takeoff.
The crew continued with the flight but requested that a tow tug be available at the London airport in case the aircraft was unable to taxi to the gate by itself.
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'Not seen anything like it before'
That maiden test flight was a success, much to the relief of Airbus, which had sunk $ 13 billion and 11 years of work into developing the aircraft.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Successful test - That maiden test flight was a success, much to the relief of Airbus, which had sunk $ 13 billion and 11 years of work into developing the aircraft.
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Singapore Airlines was the first to take delivery of an A380. The first commercial A380 flight ran from Singapore to Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport on October 25, 2007.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Singapore Airlines A380 - Singapore Airlines was the first to take delivery of an A380. The first commercial A380 flight ran from Singapore to Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport on October 25, 2007.
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Malaysia Airlines acquired its first A380 in 2012.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Malaysia Airlines A380 - Malaysia Airlines acquired its first A380 in 2012.
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The A380's size means it can easily accommodate a lounge bar, such as this one offered by Emirates. Other airlines have promised gyms or casinos, but have not delivered.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
A380 lounge - The A380's size means it can easily accommodate a lounge bar, such as this one offered by Emirates. Other airlines have promised gyms or casinos, but have not delivered.
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The A380 has proved a hit with passengers, particularly premium ticket-holders wowed by the comfort levels available. Ethiad was the first airline to offer fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Passenger popularity - The A380 has proved a hit with passengers, particularly premium ticket-holders wowed by the comfort levels available. Ethiad was the first airline to offer fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed.
Hide Caption
10 of 11
Beyond Emirates, sales of the A380 have been sluggish. Just 317 A380s had been ordered as of summer 2015. Airbus has said it believes the aircraft still has a bright future.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Sluggish sales - Beyond Emirates, sales of the A380 have been sluggish. Just 317 A380s had been ordered as of summer 2015. Airbus has said it believes the aircraft still has a bright future.
Hide Caption
11 of 11
In 2015, the A380 superjumbo celebrated 10 years since its launch. But has it lived up to expectations? Click on for a gallery of the A380 through the years.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Emirates A380s - In 2015, the A380 superjumbo celebrated 10 years since its launch. But has it lived up to expectations? Click on for a gallery of the A380 through the years.
Hide Caption
1 of 11
The A380 took its maiden flight on April 27, 2005. At 79.8 meters wide, the aircraft is the largest commercial passenger plane in operation.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Largest commercial airliner - The A380 took its maiden flight on April 27, 2005. At 79.8 meters wide, the aircraft is the largest commercial passenger plane in operation.
Hide Caption
2 of 11
Different sections of the A380 are built in different locations across Europe then brought for assembly in Toulouse, France. Here the rear section of the fuselage of the first A380 makes its way by barge through the French city of Bordeaux.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
A plane of many parts - Different sections of the A380 are built in different locations across Europe then brought for assembly in Toulouse, France. Here the rear section of the fuselage of the first A380 makes its way by barge through the French city of Bordeaux.
Hide Caption
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The Toulouse production line is currently working through an order list of more than 160 aircraft.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
On down the line - The Toulouse production line is currently working through an order list of more than 160 aircraft.
Hide Caption
4 of 11
More than 50,000 people gathered to watch the A380's maiden flight at France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Maiden flight - More than 50,000 people gathered to watch the A380's maiden flight at France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
Hide Caption
5 of 11
That maiden test flight was a success, much to the relief of Airbus, which had sunk $ 13 billion and 11 years of work into developing the aircraft.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Successful test - That maiden test flight was a success, much to the relief of Airbus, which had sunk $ 13 billion and 11 years of work into developing the aircraft.
Hide Caption
6 of 11
Singapore Airlines was the first to take delivery of an A380. The first commercial A380 flight ran from Singapore to Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport on October 25, 2007.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Singapore Airlines A380 - Singapore Airlines was the first to take delivery of an A380. The first commercial A380 flight ran from Singapore to Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport on October 25, 2007.
Hide Caption
7 of 11
Malaysia Airlines acquired its first A380 in 2012.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Malaysia Airlines A380 - Malaysia Airlines acquired its first A380 in 2012.
Hide Caption
8 of 11
The A380's size means it can easily accommodate a lounge bar, such as this one offered by Emirates. Other airlines have promised gyms or casinos, but have not delivered.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
A380 lounge - The A380's size means it can easily accommodate a lounge bar, such as this one offered by Emirates. Other airlines have promised gyms or casinos, but have not delivered.
Hide Caption
9 of 11
The A380 has proved a hit with passengers, particularly premium ticket-holders wowed by the comfort levels available. Ethiad was the first airline to offer fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Passenger popularity - The A380 has proved a hit with passengers, particularly premium ticket-holders wowed by the comfort levels available. Ethiad was the first airline to offer fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed.
Hide Caption
10 of 11
Beyond Emirates, sales of the A380 have been sluggish. Just 317 A380s had been ordered as of summer 2015. Airbus has said it believes the aircraft still has a bright future.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Sluggish sales - Beyond Emirates, sales of the A380 have been sluggish. Just 317 A380s had been ordered as of summer 2015. Airbus has said it believes the aircraft still has a bright future.
Hide Caption
11 of 11
In 2015, the A380 superjumbo celebrated 10 years since its launch. But has it lived up to expectations? Click on for a gallery of the A380 through the years.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Emirates A380s - In 2015, the A380 superjumbo celebrated 10 years since its launch. But has it lived up to expectations? Click on for a gallery of the A380 through the years.
Hide Caption
1 of 11
The A380 took its maiden flight on April 27, 2005. At 79.8 meters wide, the aircraft is the largest commercial passenger plane in operation.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Largest commercial airliner - The A380 took its maiden flight on April 27, 2005. At 79.8 meters wide, the aircraft is the largest commercial passenger plane in operation.
Hide Caption
2 of 11
Different sections of the A380 are built in different locations across Europe then brought for assembly in Toulouse, France. Here the rear section of the fuselage of the first A380 makes its way by barge through the French city of Bordeaux.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
A plane of many parts - Different sections of the A380 are built in different locations across Europe then brought for assembly in Toulouse, France. Here the rear section of the fuselage of the first A380 makes its way by barge through the French city of Bordeaux.
Hide Caption
3 of 11
The Toulouse production line is currently working through an order list of more than 160 aircraft.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
On down the line - The Toulouse production line is currently working through an order list of more than 160 aircraft.
Hide Caption
4 of 11
More than 50,000 people gathered to watch the A380's maiden flight at France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Maiden flight - More than 50,000 people gathered to watch the A380's maiden flight at France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.
Hide Caption
5 of 11
That maiden test flight was a success, much to the relief of Airbus, which had sunk $ 13 billion and 11 years of work into developing the aircraft.
11 photos: Airbus A380 through the years
Successful test - That maiden test flight was a success, much to the relief of Airbus, which had sunk $ 13 billion and 11 years of work into developing the aircraft.
Hide Caption
6 of 11
emirates a380 planeairbus1airbus 2Airbus 3Airbus 4Airbus 5Airbus 6malaysia airlines a380emirates A380 lounge3. Ethiad First Apartmenthong kong plane A380
Thirteen hours later, the plane landed safely on runway 09L and was able to taxi to the gate without assistance.
But then, reports The Aviation Herald, it was discovered that the right outboard tire had deflated both top and bottom, creating a curious four-cornered shape.
It's been puzzling aviation experts.
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson told the Daily Mail: "It's a curious one. Not seen anything like it before."
Patrick Smith, author of Cockpit Confidential, confessed: "The photo appears genuine, but I'm unsure how such a thing would happen, exactly."
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How did it happen?
Kumar Mysore, from the Royal Aeronautical Society, told the Mail that the square shape might be due to how the weight of the Airbus A380 distributes itself on a deflated tire.
"You can see that the wheel is not damaged at all, as it is designed to take this weight.
"The effect is the same as when you squeeze a rubber ring toy with different intensity, it can turn into a different shape.
"In an A380, for this particular situation, it happens to be squarish."
Mysore assured the Daily Mail that while there were a number of possible reasons for the deflation, "pilots are well trained to handle the situation safely."
A spokesperson for British Airways also confirmed that the flight was not in danger.
"Our flight landed normally last Friday with one of its 22 tires deflated.
"The A380, in common with other large commercial aircraft, is designed to be perfectly safe when landing with a deflated tire.
"Our engineers quickly changed the tire and the aircraft went back into service."
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