Passengers on United Flight 1001 got a free wheel collectible as the Boeing 757-200 lost its wheel taking off from LAX Monday, landing safely in Denver with no injuries but plenty of questions for the FAA.

This bizarre mid-flight mishap has become the latest in a troubling string of equipment failures for United Airlines, which has experienced multiple vehicular malfunctions this year. Amidst safety reviews and an on-going FAA investigation, passengers are now left wondering if the carrier is running an ultra-low-budget airline—or just auditioning for a new reality show.

United Flight 1001 took off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Monday, destined for Denver, when the airplane decided to leave one of its wheels behind. Somehow, the plane managed to land safely in Denver despite being short on rubber. This event added a whole new meaning to the term 'light landing.'

The 174 passengers and 7 crew members on board the flight were oblivious to the mid-air amputation, continuing their journey blissfully unaware that one of the wheels was no longer part of the airplane. Upon landing, there were no injuries reported, either on board or on the ground at any point along the plane's wheeled misadventure.

United Airlines confirmed that while the wheel's departure from the airplane was unplanned, it was successfully recovered at LAX. The hasty departure of the wheel didn't exactly cause chaos at the airport, though one can only imagine what the scene must have looked like upon finding the errant wheel.

The FAA jumped into action, launching an investigation to determine precisely why Flight 1001 decided it could do without one of its wheels. United Airlines is also diving into its own internal investigation to find out if this wheel's dramatic exit was an isolated incident or part of a more troubling pattern.

Unfortunately for United Airlines, wheels have a history of parting ways with their flights. This recent incident recalls a rather similar occurrence in March when a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 lost a wheel during takeoff from San Francisco International Airport. That wheel, upping the ante, went on an adventure and damaged several cars in a parking lot. One can only wonder if these wheels have a secret club and a dare list.

It’s been a challenging year for United Airlines, which has been plagued by a series of equipment failures. These include not just wayward wheels, but also engine fires, stuck rudder pedals, and gaps where airplane parts are supposed to be. With the FAA now conducting a rigorous safety review, one can't help but wonder what they'll find in United Airlines' maintenance reports—perhaps a missing manual or a checklist titled 'Optional Parts.'

Throughout these various incidents, United Airlines has maintained that passenger safety is their top priority. That said, 'extra wheels' is probably something they didn’t foresee becoming a regular checklist item. Passengers, meanwhile, are likely adding a new pre-flight query to their list: 'Excuse me, are all the wheels still attached?'

While passengers on Flight 1001 may count their blessings (and all of their wheels) before future flights, United Airlines has some serious ground to cover in terms of reassurances and operational scrutiny. As the FAA closely examines the airline’s operational protocols, we might finally find out whether these wheels going rogue is a sign of the times.

Regardless, this latest incident has contributed to a period of increased public scrutiny for United Airlines specifically. Now that United seems to be auditioning for a spot in aviation history, passengers can only hope that their next flight story will have a smoother landing—preferably with all parts still attached.