Vietnam Airlines grounds ATR-72 planes after tyre falls off midflight

VIETNAM Airlines halts flights on ATR-72 planes after a front tyre fell off one of the jets mid-flight.

VIETNAM Airlines has grounded all 14 of its ATR-72 planes after a front tyre fell off one of the jets midflight, state media reports.

The twin-engined turboprop flying from the northern port city of Hai Phong to Danang in central Vietnam landed safely on Monday, the reports said.

The plane, manufactured by French-Italian aircraft company ATR, was carrying 41 passengers and crew.

An ATR-72 operated by Lao Airlines crashed in southern Laos during a heavy storm last week, killing all 49 people on board, including six Australians.

Vietnam Airlines was not available to comment on Monday's incident.

The aircraft passed a technical check last month.