SEOUL: In a concerning incident, two aircraft, one operated by Korean Air Lines and the other by Cathay Pacific Airways, collided at New Chitose Airport on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Fortunately, no injuries were reported on either plane, providing a sigh of relief amid the potential catastrophe.
The Korean Air flight involved in the incident accommodated a total of 289 passengers and crew members, according to a representative from the airline. Conflicting information has arisen from Japanese media regarding the number of passengers on the Cathay Pacific aircraft, with no official confirmation on the exact count.
The airport authorities were alerted to the collision shortly after 17:30 local time (08:30 GMT) on Tuesday. The two aircraft, Korean Air Lines flight 766 destined for Seoul and Cathay Pacific Airways flight 583 bound for Hong Kong, were positioned side by side at the gates.
Details surrounding the incident reveal that a towing car, responsible for pushing the Korean Air plane backward in preparation for departure, slipped on the snowy ground. This unfortunate event led to the left wing of the Korean Air plane colliding with the right tail wing of the Cathay Pacific aircraft, as clarified by a Korean Air official.
In the aftermath of the collision, over 80 domestic and international flights scheduled to depart or arrive at New Chitose Airport were canceled on Tuesday due to adverse weather conditions, as reported by the airport spokesperson.
As authorities launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision, both Korean Air and Cathay Pacific are actively assessing the situation to implement necessary measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
This incident raises questions about the importance of safety protocols, especially during adverse weather conditions, and emphasizes the need for enhanced precautions to ensure the well-being of passengers and the smooth operation of air travel.