TOKYO/SEOUL: A Korean Air passenger plane was involved in a minor collision with a Cathay Pacific aircraft at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan. Despite the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, no injuries were reported from either aircraft.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Air plane, which was being towed and had 276 passengers and 13 flight crew members on board, made contact with the Cathay Pacific aircraft at approximately 5:35 p.m. The towing car pulling the Korean Air plane slipped on the snow-covered tarmac, resulting in the plane's left wing scraping the right tail wing of the Cathay Pacific aircraft. Officials confirmed that the Cathay Pacific plane did not have any passengers on it at the time of the incident.
Fortunately, there were no injuries or fires reported on either plane following the collision. Korean Air, South Korea's leading full-service airline, has announced plans to coordinate with local airport authorities to arrange an alternative flight for the passengers affected by the incident.
The replacement flight, departing from Incheon International Airport near Seoul on Tuesday evening, is expected to leave the Japanese airport at 1 a.m. on Wednesday. It is scheduled to arrive at Incheon approximately three hours later, according to Korean Air.
Korean Air expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the passengers, attributing the incident to the airport's ground handling company.