Two planes collide on runway in second crash in Japan in weeks

16 January 2024 , 10:13

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The damage caused to the aft section of the Korean Air flight (Image: X / Twitter)

Two passenger planes have collided at an airport in Japan, weeks after a tragedy which killed five people.

The stationary Cathay Pacific aircraft was clipped by the taxiing Korean Air as it made its way to the tarmac ahead of take off in heavy snow at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. A representative for Korean Air confirmed the incident happened when a ground handler slipped in the snow, causing the collision and no one was injured in the accident. The airport earlier tweeted it was experiencing flight delays and cancellations owing to the extreme conditions in the area.

Dramatic pictures from the scene show severe damage to aft section of the Korean Air flight bound for Seoul Incheon. The fire department said the Cathay Pacific flight was stationary on the tarmac when it was hit by the other plane, which had 289 people aboard and was preparing for take off when it was clipped.

A spokesman for Korean Air said: "A Korean Air aircraft came into contact with a Cathay aircraft during pushback at New Chitose (Sapporo) Airport when the third-party ground handler vehicle slipped due to heavy snow. There were no injuries and the airline is cooperating with all relevant authorities."

The damage caused to one of the planes in the collision at New Chitose Airport (X / Twitter)

A spokesman for Cathay Pacific added: "“Cathay Pacific confirms there was an incident involving a Cathay Pacific aircraft while it was parked at New Chitose Airport in Sapporo today (16 January). Our aircraft, which was stationary at the time with no customers nor crew onboard, was struck by a Korean Air A330 which was taxiing past.

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“As a result, flight CX583 from Sapporo to Hong Kong will not operate as scheduled. The majority of our customers will be protected onto another Cathay Pacific service today, with the remainder travelling with us tomorrow. We extend our apologies to the affected customers.”

Two planes collided at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido (Twitter)

The latest incident on a Japanese airport runway comes weeks after Flight S16 collided with a at Haneda Airport in Tokyo when it landed. All 379 passengers of Japan Airlines flight JAL516 got out safely before the plane was entirely engulfed in flames but five died in the smaller aircraft. Emergency vehicles raced along the tarmac to deal with the pulsing inferno.

Earlier this week an All Nippon Airways domestic flight turned back to New Chitose airport when a crack was found in the window of its cockpit after take off. None of ANA Flight 1182's 65 passengers aboard were injured an an investigation into the incident is underway.

Antony Clements-Thrower