ANA Plane Reports Smoke from Wing While Landing at New Chitose Airport in Japan

On April 25, 2024, an All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan informed authorities of 'smoke from the wing' while landing. The plane, ANA Flight 71, was carrying 204 passengers and 9 crew members at the time of the incident.

According to ANA officials, the smoke was caused by oil from a non-flammable control system that evaporated when it came into contact with a hot engine. The leak triggered a warning in the cockpit when the plane landed on Runway B at 5:34 p.m. and received an error indicating an oil pressure drop. The aircraft stopped on the runway and was later moved to a boarding gate.

The Chitose city fire department responded to the incident, but they did not have to hose water on the plane as the smoke was no longer visible after the aircraft landed. All passengers disembarked the plane safely around 7:40 p.m. without any reported injuries.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the importance of aviation safety and the need for thorough investigations into any potential mechanical issues. It also emphasizes the preparedness of airport emergency services to respond swiftly to such incidents.

One of the two runways at New Chitose Airport was temporarily closed for the removal of the leaked oil. The plane was later towed to an airport apron. ANA officials stated that the leakage did not jeopardize the safety of the passengers and crew on board. "The non-flammable oil from a control system had sprayed out and evaporated as it contacted the hot engine, giving the appearance of smoke," an ANA spokesperson explained.

This incident comes after a few other recent aviation incidents in Japan, including a collision between a Japan Airlines flight and a Coast Guard plane at Haneda Airport in January 2024, which claimed five lives, and a Korean Air plane hitting a parked Cathay Pacific aircraft at the same airport later that month. The cause of the oil leak on the ANA flight is currently under investigation.

Key Takeaways

• ANA flight from Tokyo to Hokkaido reported 'smoke from the wing' during landing.
• Smoke caused by oil from a non-flammable control system contacting a hot engine.
• All 204 passengers and 9 crew disembarked safely with no injuries reported.
• One runway temporarily closed for oil removal, plane later towed to airport apron.
• Incident comes after recent aviation incidents in Japan, cause under investigation.