T’way Air First Flight Diverts to Singapore Due to Safety Issue
What was meant to be a celebratory moment for T’way Air’s inaugural flight from South Korea to Rome quickly turned into a more urgent matter on Aug. 11. A T’way Air flight from Singapore to Seoul faced a significant setback, with the aircraft making an unscheduled return to Singapore shortly after takeoff due to a safety issue, leading to a lengthy delay for passengers.
Details of Flight TW172 Incident
T’way Air flight TW172 departed from Singapore Changi Airport on August 11, 2024, at 02:36, bound for Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN). The flight was operated by a 2009 Airbus A330-300, registered as HL8502, which has been a regular on routes to Sydney, Zagreb, Sapporo, Ulaanbaatar, and Bishkek.
However, instead of making its way to Seoul, the aircraft entered a holding pattern over Indonesia and Malaysia before returning to Singapore Changi Airport just over an hour after takeoff. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, T’way officials reported that the plane, carrying 285 passengers, returned to Changi due to undisclosed “safety issues.”
Aftermath and Passenger Impact
Upon its return, the Airbus A330-300 underwent a safety check and was declared “unfit for immediate aviation,” necessitating a replacement aircraft to be sent from Seoul to Singapore. The replacement flight is expected to depart from Singapore at around 23:00, resulting in a delay of nearly 21 hours for the stranded passengers.
T’way Air has offered affected passengers accommodations at a nearby hotel and has promised additional compensation for the inconvenience. Details regarding the specific safety issue or why the A330 needed to be replaced have not yet been disclosed, but further information is anticipated from T’way.
T’way’s Recent Safety Concerns
This incident adds to a series of recent technical and safety challenges for T’way Air. In June, passengers on a flight from Seoul Incheon to Osaka Kansai International Airport experienced an 11-hour delay due to technical issues. Additionally, South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport conducted a special inspection of T’way following four flight delays in a single week, affecting international routes to Japan and Thailand.
Despite these challenges, T’way has been expanding its international presence. The airline recently launched its first flights between Seoul and Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport and plans to start services to Paris, Barcelona, and Frankfurt in the second half of 2024.
Increased Scrutiny Following European Approval
T’way Air’s expansion into European markets comes at a time of heightened scrutiny. Following Korean Air’s proposed takeover of Asiana Airlines, European regulators approved the merger on the condition that other Korean operators be allowed to compete on certain routes. As T’way continues to expand its footprint in Europe, today’s incident may prompt further questions from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Korean authorities regarding the airline’s safety protocols.
As the situation develops, T’way Air will likely face increased pressure to address and rectify the ongoing safety and technical issues that have plagued the airline in recent months.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, simpleflying.com