A student pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at an Australian airport when his right wheel fell off shortly after take-off.

The 21-year-old was guided down by his flight instructor via radio, after circling the airport for five hours to burn off fuel.

The Piper Warrior landed at a small airport in Mangalore, a town 80 miles north of Melbourne.

The student had 120 hours of flying time, according to local media.

After the landing, he was helped out of the plane and walked to an ambulance.