Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, faced a second runway closure in two days on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. This time, the closure was triggered by an emergency landing of an American cargo plane, an Atlas Air Boeing 747, due to a hydraulic system malfunction.
The aircraft, en route to Los Angeles, had to turn back to Narita at around 1:10 a.m. after the hydraulic system issue was detected. While the seven crew members on board remained unharmed, the plane sustained damage, including ruptured tires and compromised wheels during the landing.
As a result of the incident, Narita’s Runway A was closed for at least seven hours. Despite the closure, airport officials reported minimal disruption to other flights. The runway was expected to resume operations at 8:30 a.m. after necessary repairs, including tire replacement, were completed.
This incident followed a similar disruption the day before when a Singapore Airlines flight experienced a brake malfunction upon landing. On Monday, Narita’s Runway B was closed for just under an hour after the Singapore Airlines plane reported smoke from its brakes at around 7:40 a.m. While fire engines and ambulances were dispatched, no fire was found, and no injuries were reported.
Though unrelated, both incidents highlight the importance of safety protocols at the busy international airport. As of now, no further details have been released regarding the specific mechanical issue on the Atlas Air Boeing 747. Narita Airport officials continue to closely monitor the situation, ensuring adherence to all safety procedures and minimizing disruptions to flight operations.
