Some flights were delayed at Tokyo International Airport yesterday after two planes appeared to have collided on the ground near a taxiway, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
No injuries occurred, NHK and one of the airlines said, but the incident led to the closure of one of four runways at the airport from about 11am.
The broadcaster showed footage of jets from Taiwan’s EVA Airways and Thai Airways on the ground. Part of the wing of the Thai Airways plane looked to be broken, and what appeared to be fragments could be seen near the runway.
Photo: Reuters
Thai Airways said its Bangkok-bound flight was on a taxiway preparing for takeoff when a winglet — a part at the tip of its plane’s right wing — collided with the rear of an EVA aircraft that was also on a taxiway.
The collision damaged the Thai airplane’s winglet, meaning that it was unable to operate the flight, the airline said.
The Airbus A330 aircraft was carrying 250 passengers and 14 crew members.
EVA was not immediately available for comment.
Thai Airways said that the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau was investigating the incident.
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