SINGAPORE - A T'way Air flight destined for Incheon from Singapore was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to a safety inspection issue, resulting in a significant delay and inconvenience for passengers.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Flight TW172, operating with an Airbus A330-300, departed Changi Airport at 2:15 a.m. local time with 285 passengers onboard. However, 55 minutes into the flight, it had to return to Singapore due to identified safety concerns with the aircraft. A thorough inspection afterward confirmed that the aircraft was unfit for immediate use, prompting the airline to dispatch a replacement aircraft from South Korea.
The replacement aircraft is scheduled to depart from Changi Airport at approximately 11 p.m., leading to a delay of about 21 hours for the passengers. In response to the inconvenience, T'way has provided accommodations at a nearby hotel and announced plans for additional compensation. An airline official expressed regret for the disruption, attributing it to unforeseen issues necessitating the safety check.
This incident follows a directive in June from South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which mandated T'way Air to address ongoing concerns over safety and frequent flight delays, particularly those affecting international routes.