Singapore Airlines plane in near-collision at South Korea's Incheon airport: Reports
SINGAPORE - A Singapore Airlines (SIA) plane was involved in a near-collision with a Korean Air jet at Incheon International Airport in Seoul last Thursday (May 5), local media reported.
Disaster was narrowly averted when an air traffic controller ordered SQ16, which was bound for San Francisco, to make an emergency stop after EK929, which was headed for the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, unexpectedly taxied near an intersection on the runway without permission.
SQ16, which had reportedly been travelling at between 90 and 100 kmh as it was accelerating for take-off, shredded its tyres during the braking process.
The two planes were about 1.7km apart when both came to a complete stop, according to the Korea IT Times.
There were 186 people onboard SQ16, while KE929 was carrying 188 passengers.
SQ16's departure was reportedly delayed for about 19 hours due to the repairs on its badly-damaged tyres.
KE929, meanwhile, was diverted back to the apron and took off about two hours after the incident. Its pilots were said to have ignored instructions from the air traffic controller.
According to a Korea Times report, South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is investigating and is expected to release its report in two or three weeks.
The Straits Times has contacted SIA and is awaiting its response.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...unway-incident