A Boeing 767 jetliner was ready for takeoff yesterday after 148 passengers had boarded, but one of its wheels suddenly retracted, causing the front section of the plane to collapse. One crew member and one passenger were slightly injured.

The wheels are set to automatically retract after takeoff, but an unknown malfunction caused the front wheel to pull up while still on the ground, General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) officials said. 

Most of the passengers had boarded the aircraft, scheduled to fly from Beijing to Dubai, when the jet head fell onto the ground, according to the CAAC.

The two injured people, both Chinese, were sent to the hospital, and other passengers were properly settled while a CAAC team conducted investigations.

The passenger and the crew member felt dazed, and medical checks show they were only slightly injured. All passengers boarded another Air China aircraft, and were flown to their destination on Sunday night the CAAC said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2007)